In Greece, Spain and Portugal, a large-scale evacuation has been announced due to forest fires approaching cities. In all three countries, emergency services switched to maximum mode, and efforts to relocate the population to safe areas accelerated.
According to Greek fire service spokesperson Vasilis Vatrakoyanis, at least 15 firefighters required medical assistance during the fight against the fire. It is also stated that Athens has sent its forces to help extinguish forest fires in neighboring Albania — that is, the mechanism of regional solidarity has been activated.
In Spain, the situation is serious. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offered condolences over the death of a firefighter in the line of duty in the Castile and León region. It is noted that 8,000 people have been evacuated across the country. Reports say the fires around León have covered 38,000 hectares — conclusions are being voiced that this is a major blow to the area’s natural resources.
In Portugal, thousands of firefighting crews have been deployed to extinguish blazes that have been ongoing for several weeks. In particular, more than 900 firefighters have been mobilized to strengthen control over the hotspots around the city of Arganil. This is a major challenge that runs around the clock: water supply, logistics and safety measures must operate in a single chain.
Zamin.uz conclusion: the forest fires in Southern Europe once again showed how important prevention, tried-and-tested evacuation plans and rapid cooperation are. When nature sounds the alarm, every minute is precious — therefore, the coordinated actions of emergency services and the population become the decisive factor.
Photo: AP
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