Athens [Greece], July 28: Greece is continuing to battle five major wildfires across the country amid a severe heatwave, with extreme temperatures expected to persist.
Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 44C on Sunday, as firefighters focus their efforts on two major fires on the islands of Kythira and Evia.
Fire brigade spokesman Vasilios Vathrakoyannis said the situation had improved after an "all night battle", but warned that the risk of new fires on Sunday remained "extremely dangerous".
Meanwhile, neighbouring Turkey has recorded its highest ever temperature as fires raged in several regions.
Turkey's forestry minister, Ibrahim Yumakli, said on Sunday that areas affected by fires were "going through risky times" and that he thought it would be several days before they were fully contained.
On Saturday, Turkey's environment ministry said meteorologists had recorded a reading of 50.5C in the south-eastern city of Silopi, surpassing the previous heat record of 49.5C.
Firefighters have faced a four-day battle to contain a fire in the northern Karabuk province, AFP news agency reported on Sunday. On Wednesday, 10 people died fighting a fire in Eskisehir, a province in the north-west, it added.
Some local authorities have announced restrictions on water consumption, including for the resort of Cesme on Turkey's west coast.
High winds continued to fan the flames on Sunday in Greece The country has formally requested assistance from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for six firefighting aircraft.
Climate crisis and civil protection minister Giannis Kefalogiannis previously said: "We have injured firefighters, human lives were put at risk, properties have been burned, and forest areas have been destroyed."
In Kythira, a blaze spread rapidly after breaking out on Saturday morning in the village of Pitsinades. According to initial estimates, about 20% of the island has been affected by the fire.
New evacuation alerts were issued on Sunday ordering residents of several villages to leave.
By dawn, firefighters were still tackling flare-ups, supported by helicopters and two water-bombing
aircraft.
On the island of Evia, officials said a blaze near Pissona had got "out of control" on Saturday. Six firefighters were taken to hospital with burns and smoke inhalation, while several villages were left without power.
Local authorities said there were signs of improvement on Sunday, but a significant risk of flare-ups remained due to strong winds.
In Messinia, a third wildfire broke out in the Polithea area of Trifylia on Saturday morning and intensified later in the day. Officials reported significant damage to homes and agricultural land.
On Sunday, Vathrakoyannis said 67 firefighters were attending the Kythira fire and 100 were in Messinia, where an active front remained.
Source: Qatar Tribune
