Firefighters battled multiple wildfires across southern Europe on Sunday, with officials in southwestern France warning that a single blaze could lead to the partial cancellation of the Tour de France.
As the summer tourism season gets into full swing, fires were also recorded in Portugal, Greece, Spain and the Balkans.
European policymakers have warned of heightened danger from wildfires this year, especially during July and August.
Wildfire could reroute Tour de France
French authorities said they would decide by the end of Sunday whether to cancel the third stage of the Tour de France after a forest fire broke out about 60 kilometers (37 miles) along the route.
A fire broke out in Trevilacha, in the Pyrenees-Orientales department, on Saturday, sending two people – a firefighter and a resident – to hospital in life-threatening condition.
About 750 firefighters, 200 vehicles and nine water-bomber helicopters and other aircraft have been deployed to tackle the blaze, which officials say extends up to 18 kilometres.
Cyclists are due to cross the finish line in Les Angles in the Pyrenees on Monday, and race officials hope the route can be adapted if necessary.
About 300 firefighters battled another blaze in a mountainous district in France’s south-eastern Drôme department.
Portugal calls additional troops from Spain, Italy
Meanwhile, a wildfire that broke out Thursday in the Vouzela region of central Portugal has scorched an area of 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres), according to the country’s civil protection authority.
More than 1,200 firefighters along with around 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft are engaged in extinguishing the fire.
By Sunday afternoon, the fire had been somewhat contained, with officials quoted in local media as saying that a few hot spots remained.
Spain sent reinforcement personnel and vehicles to Portugal on Friday, along with two water bombers. Italy also sent two firefighting planes.
Thousands of people evacuated as fire breaks out in Spain
A wildfire that broke out Friday in Spain’s northeastern Verona region has destroyed about 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) of land, EFE news agency reports.
A local fire official said it would not be possible to control the fire on Sunday.
Local media reported that about 50,000 people living nearby were ordered to stay indoors or were evacuated.
A man has been detained on suspicion of accidentally causing a fire while using an angle grinder for roadside work.
Greece fires felt near Athens, Thessaloniki
A massive forest fire broke out west of the capital Athens in Greece on Sunday afternoon.
It was told that the fire broke out in a pine forest in Mandara area.
Officials said more than 150 firefighters and 22 aircraft along with expert teams and volunteers are tackling the fire.
In parts of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, residents were ordered to stay indoors with their windows and doors closed after a recycling plant burst into flames and released toxic smoke.
Police have arrested a 76-year-old man on suspicion of setting vegetation on fire by creating sparks from his vehicle, the fire department said.
Major fires have also been reported on the Croatian island of Hvar and Albania’s Tale.
EU steps up cross-border support
Wildfires have become more intense across southern Europe in recent years, with fire seasons becoming longer and larger areas burning.
The latest blazes come after much of Europe was hit by an early summer heatwave.
The European Union has stepped up efforts to prepare for wildfire season, with the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, making its biggest-Emergency personnel deployed from 14 countries.
Crews with water bombers are already deployed in high-risk areas of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
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