Europe continues to face extreme temperatures, while part of the continent is immersed in a daily battle with fires that have destroyed thousands of hectares of forests and endangered hundreds of homes.
In Italy, in the area of Mount Vesuvius, firefighting operations have continued for more than 48 hours, with the support of the army. About 80 firefighters, assisted by four Canadair aircraft, are engaged in efforts to extinguish the flames. Vesuvius National Park authorities have closed the network of trails near the volcano for safety reasons, while the Pompeii archaeological park remains open. It is suspected that the cause of the fire may be deliberate arson.
In Spain, the situation remains severe in the regions of Castilla y León and Navarra, where high temperatures and strong winds have made it difficult for firefighters to fight. So far, around 36,000 hectares of forest have burned in the country, with over 15 major fires recorded this year alone.
Portugal is also battling multiple wildfires in several regions. Authorities have evacuated several homes and a nursing home, while more than 2,000 firefighters are on the ground, battling temperatures of over 40°C that are making extinguishing the flames even more difficult.
In Croatia, a fire has engulfed the coastal village of Jesenice near Split. The flames, which spread over a three-kilometer stretch, have forced the closure of the main Omis-Split road and the evacuation of several residents. About 140 firefighters and three Canadair aircraft were involved in the air and ground extinguishing operation.
Authorities in the affected countries have called for maximum caution and cooperation from citizens, while the risk of fires spreading remains high due to extreme weather conditions.
