Explained: What’s causing the record high temperatures and devastating wildfires in Europe so early this summer? | Explained News,The Indian Express
Wildfires have ravaged parts of Spain, Germany and Greece, which have been facing the worst of Europe's extraordinary heat wave. How bad are the forest fires? Are the fires a result of climate change?
Written by Manya Shiel
Spain, Germany, and Greece have been facing the worst of Europe’s extraordinary heat wave that has seen temperatures rising to record highs even before the official start of the summer (with the summer solstice, June 21), and wildfires have ravaged all three countries.
In Spain, the Sierra de la Culebra mountain range in the province of Zamora is the worst affected, with fires destroying almost 25,000 hectares and forcing the evacuation of residents of 18 municipalities. Wildfires are also raging in Lleida, Tarragona, and Garraf in northeastern Catalonia.
In Germany, winds fanned the flames 50 km southwest of the capital Berlin, and residents of Frohnsdorf, Tiefenbrunnen, Klausdorf were asked to evacuate to the town of Treuenbrietzen.
The second major wildfire in two years is burning in Evia, the second largest island of Greece. The mountainside in Gaia is aflame less than a kilometre from human habitation, and firefighting aircraft are battling the blaze.
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