Hundreds of firefighters were battling wildfires in Portugal and Greece on Sunday, with Spain and Italy sending reinforcements to Portugal to help combat a large blaze that has been burning for more than three days.
In central Portugal's Vouzela area, over 1,200 firefighters, supported by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft, worked to extinguish a wildfire that began on Thursday. By Sunday, the fire had consumed approximately 12,000 hectares (about 46 square miles), according to data from the European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping agency.
The European Union's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid reported that Spain dispatched 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to Portugal on Friday. Three aerial firefighting units from Italy and Spain were also sent to assist.
Meanwhile, in Greece, authorities on Sunday urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, the country's second-largest city, to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed. This warning was due to toxic smoke emanating from a recycling plant on the outskirts of the city that was engulfed by a wildfire that started Saturday evening near the Oraiokastro suburb.
The fast-moving blaze near Thessaloniki triggered evacuation alerts for three suburbs and a facility housing 157 individuals with special needs. Strong winds contributed to the fire's rapid spread, and approximately 160 firefighters worked through the night until water-dropping aircraft could be deployed at dawn, the fire department stated.
Oraiokastro mayor Pandelis Tsakiris informed Greece's state broadcaster ERT that several businesses and homes sustained damage. A comprehensive assessment is expected to provide a clearer picture of the extent of the destruction.
Authorities arrested a 76-year-old man on suspicion of negligence, alleging that sparks from his vehicle ignited nearby vegetation. He was scheduled to appear before a prosecutor on Sunday.
This incident follows a recent wildfire in a neighboring area that resulted in the deaths of a 12-year-old boy and his father.
Greece's fire department spokesman, Brig. Ioannis Artopoios, stated on ERT television that an estimated 85% of wildfires in Greece are caused by negligence, citing factors such as sparks from agricultural machinery, discarded cigarettes, and the use of outdoor barbecues. He added that most of these fires could have been prevented.
Greece frequently experiences destructive wildfires during its hot, dry summers. A 2018 blaze east of Athens claimed over 100 lives, and a significant fire in 2023, which affected a remote nature reserve in northeastern Greece, was recorded as the largest wildfire in the European Union's history.
The country has been increasingly adopting technology to combat the threat of fires, which are exacerbated by climate change. This includes the integration of four satellites launched into low orbit in May, designed to monitor for wildfires.