A large wildfire in southern Norway has destroyed more than 100 homes and prompted the evacuation of numerous families. The fire began Friday afternoon in a townhouse in Drammen before spreading into surrounding forests, according to police.
Firefighters continued to battle the flames on Saturday, contending with strong winds. The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection stated that this is the largest wildfire of its kind in modern history. Hundreds of people have been directed to an evacuation center, reported NRK, Norway's public broadcaster.
Images from the scene showed thick, black smoke blanketing a residential area as emergency services worked to contain the blaze. No residents have been reported missing, and the cause of the fire is currently unknown.
This incident follows a recent deadly wildfire in southern Spain that consumed approximately 27 square miles of forest and farmland and claimed 13 lives. The majority of those who died were foreign nationals, including British, Belgian, French, and American citizens. Spain has been experiencing extreme heat, low rainfall, and high winds, creating conditions conducive to rapid wildfire spread. Europe is warming at a rate twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.