Extreme weather in the Mediterranean: Deaths after storm in Italy, up to 46 degrees expected in Greece

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Fire in Rhodes

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Petros Giannakouris / picture alliance/dpa/AP

Heat waves, hailstorms and violent squalls: In regions around the Mediterranean, people are suffering from the extreme weather, there are several deaths. At the same time, huge areas of nature are destroyed in forest fires. The situation is particularly dire in Greece, where a new heat wave is expected.

According to the Greek meteorological office, it will be well over 40 degrees on Tuesday and especially on Wednesday in large parts of the country. In the west, meteorologists expect more than 46 degrees on Wednesday. Only on Thursday it should "cool down" at least slightly: to about 35 degrees.

The extreme drought facilitates forest fires; There have been fires on several Greek islands, some of which have been going on for more than a week. In Rhodes, the flames are still not under control: six villages north and west of the ancient site of Lindos were threatened by fire on Tuesday. With the first light of day, firefighting planes and helicopters were used again. "The extinguishing work is very difficult because of the rotating winds," said a spokesman for the fire brigade on state radio.

In Rhodes, more than 260 firefighters with two helicopters and two planes fought the flames for the eighth day in a row, according to the fire brigade. In the north of the island of Corfu, more than 60 firefighters were deployed against the fire with a helicopter and two firefighting aircraft. The situation was similar near the city of Karystos on Euboea. The civil defense authorities ordered the evacuation of a locality.

In many parts of the country, there was still "extreme danger" from forest fires on Tuesday. In the Aegean Sea, the wind blew at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.

The Ministry of Citizen Protection has now launched investigations to clarify how the devastating fires broke out. The judiciary is also investigating whether the fire brigade acted correctly when the fire in the south-east of Rhodes was still small, state television reported.

However, representatives of the police and fire brigade union dampened expectations that those responsible would be found at all. Experience has shown that the chances of identifying those who intentionally or secretly set fires are slim. In most cases, it has been determined in the past that it was negligent arson.

However, in view of the forest fires in several countries in southern Europe, meteorologists repeatedly point to global warming as the cause. Forest fires can spread faster in the dry vegetation.

According to initial estimates by experts, about 150 square kilometers of forest and agricultural land have been destroyed in the recent fires in Rhodes. In addition, according to estimates by animal rights activists, numerous deer, turtles and other wild and farm animals have died.

Airport in Palermo temporarily closed

Forests and fields have also been burning on the Italian Mediterranean island of Sicily since Tuesday night. The north and Palermo and the surrounding area are particularly affected. A fire on the hills around the island's capital reached the site of the island's airport early Tuesday morning. This was therefore temporarily blocked. Several flights have already been cancelled or will be diverted.

In Palermo and the surrounding province, the fire brigade says it has 30 teams to fight the numerous fires. Local media reported that a hospital was also threatened. According to the fire brigade, however, the fire there is under control. 1500 people had to be evacuated in the area, as the broadcaster »Rai« reported. In some parts of eastern Sicily, temperatures rose to 47.6 degrees Celsius on Monday.

In northern Italy, on the other hand, at least one person was killed in severe storms. As reported by the Ansa news agency, a 16-year-old girl was killed in a scout camp near the city of Brescia on Tuesday night when a tree fell on her tent. Firefighters took the other scouts out of the tent camp and housed them in a nearby sports hall.

Squalls, heavy rain and hail caused flooded roads and fallen trees in Italy's second largest city, Milan, among other places. Many trees fell on parked cars. Authorities also reported severe damage to the city's power grid. One aircraft was so badly damaged by hailstones that it had to land again shortly after take-off – the hail had caused, among other things, a crack in one of the cockpit windows.

34 dead due to forest fires in Algeria, evacuations in Turkey

A forest fire has also broken out in the southern Turkish holiday region of Antalya. For security reasons, ten houses in the Kemer district were evacuated, the state news agency Anadolu reported on Tuesday. Strong winds made it difficult to extinguish the fire. Tourists were not affected at first. Eleven aircraft and 22 helicopters are in the firefighting operation, according to official figures.

Forest fires in Algeria, North Africa, killed at least 34 people. According to the Algerian Interior Ministry late Monday evening, 24 civilians and ten military personnel are among the dead.

Around 8000,1500 rescuers were deployed to extinguish the fires. The Beni Ksila region, east of the capital Algiers, was particularly affected on Monday. Around <> people were brought to safety in villages. The flames quickly spread to other regions of the country in the face of strong winds.

Neighboring Tunisia also struggled on Monday with fires and a heat wave that swept large parts of the country. The temperature in the capital Tunis was 48 degrees Celsius. In forests near the Algerian border, firefighters fought fires that had been raging there for several days. According to media reports, around 2500 people were brought to safety. Several people suffered heat stroke and were taken to hospitals.

fok/AFP/dpa