Forest fires burned through parts of Europe over the weekend causing death and destruction. The video above shows some of the fires in Turkey, Italy and Greece. All of the fires started from a heat wave fed by hot air from North Africa and spread across southern Europe.
Monday marked the sixth straight day Turkish firefighters battled against fires in forests near the country’s beach destinations. Firefighters extinguished 129 fires in over 30 provinces since Wednesday.
Eight people died, residents and tourists fled vacation resorts, and many villagers lost their homes and farm animals.
“We had two cows. I left them on the hill, loose in case they are able to save themselves,” Bozalan resident Selcuk Sanli said. “I had some belongings which I put in the car and took with me. We’re not thinking about our home right now. We’re thinking about our own health. Property is an important part of life, but life itself comes first.”
Fellow Bozalan resident Esran Sanli did not see things getting better any time soon. “It’s burning. It’s obviously burning,” Sanli said. “There’s no plane. There’s no helicopter. There’s no roads. How is this going to be extinguished? How?”
Meanwhile In Italy, a strong wildfire swept across the coastal town of Pescara on Sunday. More than 100 people were evacuated from their homes, and several residents were taken to the hospital.
And in Greece, a wildfire on Saturday forced the evacuation of four villages, as well as, people on a beach. Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said the fire started in a mountain forest 19 miles east of Patras, Greece’s third-largest city. Strong winds helped the fire down the slopes, threatening the seaside villages below.
Conditions in Greece could get worse to begin the workweek. Temperatures in the country, as well as, nearby countries in southeast Europe are expected to climb to more than 107 degrees Fahrenheit in many cities and towns Monday.
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