Wildfires across Europe contained after days of raging flames
International Desk, Aug 20 (EFE).- Wildfires raging across Europe started dying down Friday days after a series of blazes broke out following a heatwave across the region.
In southern France, a wildfire that consumed over 6,000 hectares of land near Saint-Tropez and forced the evacuation of some 10,000 people, was stabilized Friday even though local authorities warned there were still active outbreaks.
The fire that broke out near the Gonfaron village in the Var region on Monday, is France’s worst summer fire this year.
Two deaths were reported and 26 people were injured, including seven firefighters.
The forest fire that broke out some 50 kilometers from Athens and consumed over 10,000 hectares of forest in the mountainous area to the northwest of the Greek capital also started to die down Friday as firefighters battled to contain the flames.
The fire broke out on Monday in Vilia and neighbouring villages were evacuated while residents were recommended not to return to their homes because of the threat of smoke inhalation.
In the last two weeks, Greece has been shaken by an unprecedented series of fires, which have destroyed 100,000 hectares of forest and crops, hundreds of houses, and caused two fatalities.
The fire in Spain’s province of Avila, a rural area some 120 kilometers from Madrid, was contained on Thursday.
The fire, considered the worst in the country this summer, forced the evacuation of three villages and consumed over 20,000 hectares of land.
The blaze sparked Saturday after a car was set on fire after an accident on the highway nearby.
