Romania and Greece Grapple with Early Wildfires
Unusually hot and dry conditions, coupled with strong winds, have sparked forest fires earlier than expected in Romania and Greece.
In Romania, several counties are battling forest fires intensified by the scorching weather and gusty winds. Firefighters are working tirelessly to prevent the flames from encroaching upon residential areas and spreading further into wooded regions.
Neamt county authorities remain on high alert as multiple forest fires erupted simultaneously, exacerbating the situation. Limited access to water poses a significant challenge for firefighting efforts.
Meanwhile, in Greece, firefighters and emergency services conducted a large-scale exercise near Athens, at a 12th-century monastery nestled within a forest. The exercise aims to prepare for the imminent fire season, typically declared in May, with a focus on enhancing response times.
However, the onset of forest fires in Greece occurred prematurely, with temperatures soaring to 30 degrees Celsius by the end of March. These early blazes highlight the escalating threat posed by heatwaves, with forest fires in Greece becoming increasingly devastating. The catastrophic fires in Attica in 2018, claiming over a hundred lives, underscore the urgency of proactive measures to combat this recurring peril.
