Firefighters across Europe battle wildfires as blazes continue in Germany, Greece and Turkey

Published on 05/07/2025 - 22:19 GMT+2

Firefighters crossed Europe continue to conflict wood fires amid blistering heatwaves, arsenic blazes broke retired successful Germany, Greece and Turkey connected Saturday. 

Hundreds of German firefighters person been battling blazes for days successful the forested regions of Thuringia and Saxony, including the Gohrischheide quality reserve adjacent the Brandenburg border. 

Around 650 exigency unit were deployed by midday connected Saturday, officials said. Fire alerts were issued via mobile apps by authorities. 

While officials successful Saxony described the concern determination arsenic mostly stable, authorities successful Brandenburg said they were prepared for the occurrence to perchance reignite. 

Firefighters successful Greece made advancement successful containing a wildfire that broke retired connected Friday day successful eastbound Attica, the Greek occurrence work said connected Saturday. 

Authorise had earlier ordered evacuations of adjacent residents aft reports of homes being damaged. People surviving successful Agios Dimitrios, Galazia Akti and Althea received exigency alerts connected their phones instructing them to evacuate to the coast. 

The occurrence work deployed astir 120 firefighters, supported by 8 helicopters and 8 aircraft, to combat the fire. 

Strong winds and adust conditions person raised the risk of wildfires crossed the country, prompting heightened vigilance by exigency services. 

In Turkey, firefighters person reportedly brought respective ample wildfires nether power successful the occidental Izmir province. 

Fanned by beardown winds, fires near homes uninhabitable and forced the evacuation of respective neighbourhoods aft flames reached residential areas.  

Ground crews, supported by planes and helicopters, worked astir the timepiece for 3 days to incorporate the fires, according to the Turkish forestry directorate. 

Turkey besides reportedly sent 2 craft and 11 occurrence engines on with enactment vehicles to Syria connected Saturday to assistance successful the firefighting efforts there. 

Large wildfires determination proceed to wreak havoc arsenic they devour coastal forests fanned by beardown winds and drought. Efforts to halt the bid of wildfires person been analyzable by the beingness of unexploded munitions near implicit from much than a decennary of civilian war.