Wildfires Rage Across the Mediterranean Amid Intensifying Heatwave

Wildfires Rage Across the Mediterranean Amid Intensifying Heatwave
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Countries around the Mediterranean are grappling with rapidly spreading wildfires and soaring temperatures as a severe heatwave sweeps through Southern Europe and parts of the Middle East, Al Jazeera reported. On Sunday, fires broke out in Greece, Turkey, France, and Syria, with several other nations remaining on high alert as meteorologists predict the heat to worsen in the coming days.

Regions affected include Turkey’s Izmir and Hatay provinces, as well as Syria’s Latakia area. In Greece, fires near Crete and Athens have been extinguished, but the situation remains critical. The wildfires in Turkey have resulted in at least two fatalities, with emergency responders battling multiple blazes fueled by strong winds. In Izmir’s Seferihisar district, five neighborhoods were evacuated as a precaution. Over the past week, Turkish firefighters have responded to more than 600 fires amid severe drought conditions. Authorities have arrested 10 suspects linked to recent wildfires, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Emergency services continue to combat a persistent fire in Dortyol, Hatay province. From Spain to Italy, officials have urged residents to protect vulnerable populations and avoid unnecessary travel during this first major heatwave of the summer. Firefighters and medical teams have been deployed near popular tourist areas as climate change-driven extreme heat events become increasingly frequent and severe.