Plane fighting wildfires in Evia crashes
The UK foreign office has updated its guidance for people visiting Greece, advising those travelling to areas affected due to wildfire to make sure they had “appropriate insurance”.
“If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance,” the foreign office said, adding that the insurance should “cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency”.
It comes as 20,000 people had to leave homes and hotels in Rhodes over the weekend as the inferno that began a week ago spread, while over 2,000 holidaymakers returned home by plane on Monday.
After the blaze in Rhodes prompted “the biggest evacuation” in Greek history, civil protection authorities warned of “extreme risk” of wildfires on the island of Crete, while around 2,500 people have already been evacuated from Corfu, which has been enduring dozens of blazes.
Meanwhile, Croatia and Portugal are battling wildfires overnight, with hundreds of firefighters pressed into action.
The wildfire in Portugal began at 5pm local time in a mountainous area that is part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. It prompted more than 600 firefighters and water-bombing planes to put out the blaze but had to stop operating during the night.
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Firefighters and locals battle wildfire in Portugal
A police officer and a local resident throw buckets of water during a wildfire in Cascais
(REUTERS)
A firefighter watches the progression of a wildfire as it approaches Zambujeiro village in Cascais
(AFP via Getty Images)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 July 2023 06:00
Firefighters scramble to put out wildfire in Portugal
Hundreds of Portuguese firefighters aided by local residents scrambled yesterday to put out flames sweeping across a national park near the popular holiday destination of Cascais.
The wildfire began at 5pm local time in a mountainous area that is part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, which covers around 145sqkm of land and is located west of the capital Lisbon.
More than 600 firefighters and 189 vehicles were pressed into action after the fire erupted. Water-bombing planes also battled the blaze but had to stop operating as night set in.
At one of the villages affected by the fire, desperate local residents took matters into their own hands as they tried to protect their homes with buckets of water and hosepipes, as strong winds fanned the flames.
“The fear now is that it will get to the houses,” Ines Figueiredo, 34, told Reuters. “We try to help as much as we can with buckets (of water)… but it’s not worth much.”
EU data shows Portugal, which has so far escaped the worst impacts of the European heatwave, is usually one of the bloc’s worst-hit countries by wildfires.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 July 2023 05:40
Are Greece wildfires caused by climate change?
Wildfires have raged across Greece for several days, triggering large-scale evacuations, rescue flights for British tourists and warnings from officials that things may yet get worse.
While the cause of the blazes has not officially been identified, local authorities have suggested at least some could have been the work of arsonists.
But climate science and fire risk specialists say it’s undeniable that rising temperatures and prolonged heatwaves mean the fires in the Mediterranean country have spread faster and burned over larger areas.
Maanya Sachdeva has more.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 July 2023 05:20
Wildfire rages in Italy, burning down house and cars on its way
Flames rage after a wildfire broke out in Puglia, Italy
(Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
A wildfire burns in the Sicilian village of Romitello, near Palermo, Italy
(REUTERS)
Aerial firefighting continues as teams conduct extinguishing works by land and air to control wildfires across in Reggio Calabria, Italy
(Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 July 2023 04:45
Foreign office advises people visiting affected areas to carry ‘appropriate insurance’
The UK foreign office has updated its guidance for people visiting Greece, telling those travelling to areas affected due to wildfire to make sure they had “appropriate insurance”.
“If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance,” the foreign office said, adding that the insurance should “cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency”.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 July 2023 04:18
Two dead in water-dropping plane crash in Greece
A Greek air force water-dropping plane crashed while diving into a wildfire in southern Greece yesterday, killing both pilots, as authorities battled blazes that have been raging for days across the country.
A state ERT TV video showed the bright yellow CL-215 aircraft releasing its load of water on the island of Evia before its wingtip apparently snagged in a tree branch. Moments later it disappeared into a deep fold in the ground from which a fireball erupted.
The air force said the pilots, aged 34 and 27, both died in the crash.
Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cancelled a planned visit to Cyprus for today and Greece’s armed forces declared three days of mourning.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar26 July 2023 04:08
Simon Calder’s latest advice on travel to Greece as wildfires rage
The Greek islands have been a favourite destination for British holidaymakers for decades but this month has seen out-of-control blazes spark “the biggest evacuation” in its history from Rhodes while Crete, Corfu, Evia and Zante have also suffered devastating infernos.
Here’s what The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder has had to say about the evolving situation so far.
Martha Mchardy26 July 2023 03:45
Michael Gove going on holiday to Greek island currently being evacuated
Michael Gove is going to Evia in a week despite Greek authorities evacuating parts of the island.
The housing secretary is visiting the island, off the eastern coast of mainland Greece, after it became caught up in the “nightmare” wildfires engulfing the country.
Mr Gove told Sky News: “I am planning to go to Greece in just over a week’s time.” He added that he was visiting Evia.
Asked whether he was worried about the raging fires, Mr Gove said: “No, I am not.
“I think it’s absolutely right that individuals should be able to go to Greece to enjoy their holidays,” Mr Gove added.
Martha Mchardy26 July 2023 02:45
Arsonists behind Corfu’s devastating wildfires as Greece ‘at war’
Arsonists are being blamed for devastating wildfires that have swept through the Greek island of Corfu.
Corfu mayor Yorgos Mahimaris claimed on Monday that an arsonist started the fires which have sparked mass evacuations.
Mr Mahimaris came to the conclusion after visiting three locations where fires broke out on Mount Pantokratoras.
Oliver Pritchard-Jones reports:
Martha Mchardy26 July 2023 01:45
Where are the Italy wildfires as temperatures rise to 47.6C on Sicliy?
Travel on and off the Italian island of Sicily has been disrupted after wildfires fuelled by extreme temperatures broke out.
Videos and photos show the fires ravaging the island holiday destination, including two of the main airports at Catania and Palermo.
Flames also threatened the ancient archaeological site of Segesta, which had to be closed temporarily to check for any damage.
Martha Mchardy26 July 2023 00:45