More than 120,000 people have been affected by wildfires in four Mediterranean countries, Greece, Italy, Algeria, and Tunisia, the European Union’s science center said in a report published on Friday.
The report, which was based on data from the European Union’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) wildfire monitoring system, Copernicus Emergency Management Service, said that the total area burned was 135,000 hectares in the four Mediterranean countries in just 12 days.
The report also said that around 260,000 hectares of forest have burned in the European Union since January 2023.
Algeria was able to extinguish the fires within 48 hours of their outbreak, thanks to the large resources that the state has made available, including water bombers, as well as the efforts of the civil protection, the national popular army, and the citizens.
Here are some additional details from the report:
- The wildfires have caused extensive damage to property and infrastructure, and have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes.
- The fires have also had a significant impact on the environment, destroying forests and wildlife.
- The European Union is providing financial assistance to the affected countries to help them recover from the wildfires.
The wildfires in the Mediterranean are a reminder of the growing threat of climate change. As the Earth’s climate continues to warm, wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense. This is a serious challenge that will require international cooperation to address.
