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INPRIMATU
Fires cause 43 deaths in Mediterranean countries
  • High temperatures and dry grounds have caused fires on Tuesday. The countries most affected are: Croatia, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Italy, Greece and France. In recent hours, fires have also spread in Portugal and the Canary Islands.
Aitor Gurrutxaga Muñagorri 2023ko uztailaren 26a

High temperatures and dry lands have caused fires in several Mediterranean countries and, in addition to immense environmental damage, have caused many deaths and injuries. Next, we review countries using the TheGuardian media as a source.

In total, fires have occurred in 15 provinces in Algeria, resulting in 34 deaths and about 1,500 have had to leave their homes. Over 8,000 European firefighters go to help their firefighters.

In Italy, in addition to fires, severe storms have caused damage and at least seven deaths, including a 16-year-old. The inhabitants of Milan, for example, have explained that heavy rains and hail have caused a "disaster" in the streets, flooding the streets and cutting down trees. In addition, they live an antithesis in Sicily, where they have recorded temperatures up to 47.6ºC. Its president, Renato Schifani, has proposed to the Italian Government an emergency situation. “We are experiencing the most serious situation of the last decade: storms, hail and tornadoes, among others. This requires a change of attitude from society,” explains Nello Musumeci, Minister of Civil Protection.

In Greece some 20,000 people have left their homes and two firefighters die while they were working. According to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotaki, all mankind must face the “critical point” of the climate emergency we are experiencing.

The fires in Tunisia have forced the authorities to close two border posts and some 300 people have been evacuated. The news agency TAP publishes the death of the head of a school because of smoke caused by fires. The most affected areas are Bizerta, Siliana and Beja.

The North Press Agency spoke on Tuesday about the fires in north-west Syria in Lataki: “Fire fighters are working to talk about mass forest fires, but they are not yet controlled.”

France and Croatia control fires. In the first, about 300 firefighters faced Tuesday the fires that have occurred near Arles. In the second, the fires in the city of Dubrovnik have also been extinguished.

The fire in Portugal begins in a western mountain range, where 600 firefighters work. Carlos Carreiras, mayor of the city, states that the wind streaks have “hindered” the work of the professionals who were in the helicopter. Portugal is the country most affected by forest fires, according to EU data.

In the Canary Islands there has been a forest fire of some 200 hectares which has caused the evacuation of several inhabitants.