According to NGOs, at least 700,000 hectares of forest have been burned in the EU this year. That's the highest number since records began. This is roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. Other countries affected by these fires include Portugal and Greece. The destruction is devastating and will continue for years.
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NGOs say up to 3,000 hectares of land may be affected.
Wildfires are threatening the forests in many European countries, with the number of fires rising to a record high this year. According to NGOs, up to 3,000 hectares of land could be affected. Europe has been experiencing drought and very high temperatures this summer.
Many factors influence the intensity and number of wildfires. These include weather, climate, land use, urban sprawl, and racial, social, and economic factors. In addition, wildfires are burning much more rapidly and have more destructive impacts than they did in the past.
To help combat wildfires, governments across Europe are increasing their spending on firefighting. France has set aside $863 million to improve its firefighting capabilities. In Greece, firefighters often rely on volunteers for help. Moreover, the fires can severely impact the income of local people.
Forest fires have burned a record 700,000 hectares of land in France.
The French countryside has been devastated by wildfires this summer, as a series of heatwaves and record temperatures have fuelled the fires. The Gironde region in southwestern France has been particularly hard-hit, with the evacuation of 10,000 people forced to flee their homes. Despite efforts by firefighting crews, the fires have spread beyond control and have destroyed more than 6,200 hectares (15320 acres) of land.
Europe has also been hit by the summer blazes, with some countries in the Mediterranean suffering four times as much land as in the previous five years. Wildfires have been a long-standing problem in the Mediterranean basin, but experts believe climate change is fueling the fires. This year, the European Union has suffered a record number of fires, with France, Romania, and Spain reporting the most land lost to blazes. While the news cycle has been flooded with stories of the destruction, the record number of forest fires in the EU makes 2022 an even more dire year.
In France, a record number of forest fires have destroyed hundreds of thousands of hectares of land. One of the worst fires in France has devastated the Piney Woods, burning over 74 square kilometres of forest. Another major fire in the west has destroyed more than 1,200 hectares of land.
Fires have scorched a record 700,000 hectares of land in Portugal
Portugal has experienced a series of devastating fires in the past two weeks. In total, over five hundred thousand hectares of land were burned, equivalent to the size of Lisbon. Portugal's forests accounted for 60 per cent of the total burned land in the EU this year, a record amount. Portugal's fire brigade fought the flames for 12 days, claiming they destroyed 25 per cent of the country's Serra da Estrela mountain range. This mountain region rises to almost two thousand metres.
The government and local communities are working to find the cause of the fires. Portugal has declared a state of emergency and is calling in several aircraft to assist firefighters. The wildfire in the Serra da Estrela natural park in central Portugal has scorched a record 177,000 hectares (700,000 acres) and has been spread by strong winds. Portugal has put the country on high alert for three days.
As the fires spread across the EU, the European Union is facing a difficult summer ahead. Portugal, Spain, and France all have more land affected by fires than usual. The countries' total land burned this year is more than double the average for this time period.
Fires have burned a record 700,000 hectares of land in Greece.
The Mediterranean region has been hit by a series of heat waves this summer. As a result, wildfires have broken out in Greece and other parts of Europe, destroying hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest. According to the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Office, the fires have killed thousands of people and damaged thousands of hectares of land.
Greece's failure to protect its forests is at least partly to blame. Its poor firefighting systems have allowed the wildfires to spread unchecked, threatening the country's delicate ecosystems. Moreover, as climate change progresses, fires will likely grow more frequently. Hence, Greece needs to invest in teams and equipment for fighting fires.
Greek authorities organised mass evacuations to protect residents while firefighters battled to put out the fires. In July, Greece experienced a series of heatwaves with temperatures reaching 45C. Forecasters predict the country will again suffer from the same situation on Monday. Meanwhile, 22 countries are stepping up efforts to help Greece deal with the reignited wildfires.
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