Hundreds of firefighters battled wildfires across Portugal, Greece and Spain over the weekend, with Spain and Italy sending reinforcements to Portugal to help contain a massive blaze that has burned for more than three days.
In central Portugal’s Vouzela area, more than 1,200 firefighters, backed by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft, worked to extinguish a fire that broke out Thursday and had burned across 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) by Sunday, according to Copernicus satellite data. By Sunday afternoon the blaze appeared to be easing, with officials saying it no longer had major active fronts, though hot spots remained. Spain sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles, while Italy and Spain each dispatched firefighting aircraft.
In Greece, authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, the country’s second-largest city, to stay indoors with windows shut after a wildfire engulfed a recycling plant, releasing toxic smoke. Around 160 firefighters battled the blaze through the night. A 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sparking the fire through negligence with his vehicle.
A separate, fast-moving fire broke out west of Athens on Sunday afternoon, burning through pine forest in the Mandra area. Authorities deployed 210 firefighters, along with volunteers and 29 aircraft, racing to contain it before nightfall grounded air support.
In Spain’s northeastern Girona region, a fire burning since Friday had scorched nearly 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) with a 40-kilometer perimeter, according to the Catalan Fire Service, which said it may not be brought under control soon.
Greek fire officials said roughly 85% of wildfires in the country are caused by negligence, including agricultural machinery sparks, discarded cigarettes and outdoor barbecues.
