Turkey and Italy: devastating wildfires in the Mediterranean

Massive wildfires are raging in many leisure areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey is currently particularly hard hit. At least six people have died there so far. And Italy is also reporting violent fires.

In Turkey, the fire brigade is fighting a devastating wildfire. The situation is particularly tense on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, with strong winds making it difficult to extinguish the fire.

In total, Turkey reports 101 sources of fire – 91 of which are under control. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced in the evening that six people had died in the fire so far.

Panic at Bodrum’s seaside resort

Recently, a fire broke out in the popular seaside resort of Bodrum on the Turkish Aegean Sea. According to the Anadolu news agency, residents and tourists had to be evacuated from the flames. Many people ran towards the shore in panic. Private boats support the officers in the evacuation. The cause of the fire is not yet clear. Officials are investigating in all directions and are not ruling out arson.

Erdogan in Brandregion

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assessed the situation on the spot and promised state support to all victims. He also thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending helicopters and firefighting aircraft. According to Erdogan, the number of machines has been increased from six to 13.

Turkey’s head of state has been criticized in his own country after it became known that Turkey does not have firefighting aircraft, despite fires every year.

Fire in Sicily – Severe Weather Alert for Northern Italy

Italy also reports several wildfires – on the popular holiday island of Sicily alone, 250 fire brigades were deployed within 24 hours. The flames spread mainly around the city of Catania. Around 170 people were trapped in the fire there and had to be pulled out. The airport in Catania had to temporarily cease operations.

The fire is raging due to constant heat, drought and strong winds. Some attribute the arson to investigators. Sicily’s regional president Nello Musumesi wrote about the “destruction” as a result of the high temperatures in a post on Facebook. According to him, investigators found that some arsonists were behind the fire. They are causing irreparable damage to the heritage of the forest and endangering the people.

In Italy’s north, however, officials are warning of heavy rain. According to a report by the Civil Protection Authority, for isolated regions of northern Italian Lombardy, the highest red alert level applies. This week, violent storms caused flooding and landslides in the area around Lake Como.

hot summer in greece

Greece is also in the grip of severe heat. Meteorologists have predicted a temperature of 46 degrees Celsius for the weekend and the coming week. Also on Rhodes it should be hot next Tuesday with temperatures around 44 degrees. It is hot at night, especially in metropolitan areas, with temperatures above 30 degrees.