Wömt forest fires in Europe: heat and wind bring disaster!

Wömt forest fires in Europe: heat and wind bring disaster!

Europe's forests are under heavy pressure, while devastating forest fires are spreading in several countries. The extreme heat and strong winds trigger an unprecedented risk of fire that makes experts on alert. Regions in East Germany and Turkey are particularly affected, where hundreds of firefighters are deployed to fight the flames. According to Vienna.at , around 250 hectares are already affected in the Thuringian forest area Saalfeld. Reinforcement from Bavaria was requested to support the over 560 emergency services that are already on site.

in Gohrischheide, which lies between Saxony and Brandenburg, the situation is tense. The fires extend over an area between 200 and 1,000 hectares, and strong winds make the extinguishing measures considerably more difficult. A precise assessment of the situation was not yet possible on Friday morning. There is also positive news in Greece: the fires in Crete and in the Athens area could be brought under control. However, the fire brigade spokesman warn of the danger that strong wind nests could ignite again because a new heat wave with temperatures of up to 40 degrees is announced.

extreme weather and heat record

The extreme temperatures that are plagued southern Europe this season have already reached record values. While Spain recorded 46 degrees Celsius in Huelva, Portugal reported similar maximum values at 46.6 degrees in Mora. In Turkey, over 50,000 people in 41 municipalities have been evacuated in front of the forest and bush fires. In İzmir, around 1,000 firefighters fight the flames who have already damaged 130 houses. The situation has grown into a humanitarian crisis, since not only property but also human life are at stake. So two people have already died in the flames: an 81-year-old man and a forest worker. There are also other helpers in the hospital.

The European Environment Agency raises the alarm and points out that 2023 is expected to be the warmest year in more than 100,000 years. The climatic changes lead to more frequent and more intensive extreme weather events. Around 900,000 hectares of forest space burned down in southern Europe in 2022. The increase in forest fires is further exacerbated by the previous drought and the increasing temperatures. These developments not only have environmental consequences, but also economic implications, with estimated damage caused by natural disasters of over 170 billion euros in the EU. According to Europarl.europa.eu can be seriously endangered in the affected regions.

future challenges

To meet the current situation, various countries have taken additional measures. In France, heat warnings apply to 84 of the 95 departments, and 200 schools had to be closed to ensure the safety of the students. In the south of France, 400 hectares of land burned down, while a grill who was responsible for a fire led to the arrest of a suspect. The Golfech nuclear power plant also had to be switched off due to the high water temperature in the Garonne river.

an outlook on the current challenges in Europe also shows the increasing awareness of the dangers of changing climate. Regional and national governments are required to develop aggressive plans to combat the climate crisis. This is the only way to Italy, which can cause heat warnings for 17 cities and record an increase in heat stroke patients by 10 %, react to these recurring natural disasters and guarantee the safety of the population.