Wildfires

California firefighters scramble to protect sequoia groves

Fire officials warn hot, dry weather and stronger winds are creating “critical fire conditions” for KNP Complex – two lightning-sparked blazes that merged on the western side of Sequoia National Park in Sierra Nevada.

Protests in Greece amid discontent over fires, Covid response

Over 5,000 police have been deployed in Greece's second largest city Thessaloniki ahead of protests against recent laws on overtime and strikes, and over expected price hikes later this year.

Erdogan: Turkey won't become Europe's 'refugee warehouse'

Faced with a potential new migration wave from Afghanistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the EU to shoulder the responsibility for Afghans fleeing the Taliban and warned that his country won’t become Europe’s “refugee warehouse.”

New wildfires burn outside Athens, prompting evacuations in villages

More than 500 wildfires have broken out in recent weeks across Greece, which has seen some of its highest temperatures in decades.

Algeria mourns more dead as firefighters battle forest blazes

The government has blamed arsonists and a blistering heatwave for dozens of blazes that have raged across the country's north since Monday, but experts have also criticised authorities for failing to prepare for the annual phenomenon.

Heat wave edges higher in southern Europe, fuels wildfires

Italy saw temperatures in places upwards of 40°C, and Rome broiled. By late afternoon Friday, the heat in Florence reached 39°C. That city and Bologna also were issued alerts for Saturday by the health ministry.

Greece fires now under control as reconstruction begins

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis appoints a new minister in charge of recovery from natural disasters in a bid to defuse growing anger over the struggle to curb wildfires that have charred thousands of hectares of forest.

Severe floods batter Turkey’s Black Sea coastal cities

Flash floods and mudslides triggered by torrential rain in northern Turkey leaves at least 17 people dead, Turkey's President Erdogan says.

Multinational firefighter force battles Greece wildfires

More than 247,000 acres have been burned by wildfires raging across Greece over the last two weeks, data from European Forest Fire Information System shows.

Raging wildfires sweep across Algeria’s north

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has declared three days of national mourning starting from Thursday.

Heatwave sweeps across Italy as Greece fights to contain fire damage

Europe continues to struggle with some of the worst wildfires the region has seen in decades.

Death toll from Algeria’s wildfire rises to 65

Algeria’s state TV says 12 soldiers are in hospital in critical condition with 28 others killed as residents flee to nearby towns in the worst-hit area of Tizi Ouzou.