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EU sending wildfire help to Spain as death toll rises Spain wildfires: EU sends help as death toll rises
(about 2 hours later)
Firefighters battle overnight wildfires in SpainFirefighters battle overnight wildfires in Spain
The European Union is sending two planes to help Spain tackle raging wildfires, after the country activated an EU disaster assistance mechanism for the first time. The European Union has sent two firefighting planes to Spain to help battle raging wildfires, after the country activated the bloc's disaster assistance mechanism for the first time.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told local media he had requested two water bomber aircraft from the EU to be deployed to the worst-affected areas. The assistance comes as the country recorded a third wildfire-related death on Thursday morning.
The help comes as a third person died due to injuries sustained battling a wildfire on Thursday morning. There are concerns the wildfires could continue to spread. Spain's state weather agency Aemet forecasts that a heatwave will continue until Monday, with temperatures of up to 44C in some areas, as well as moderate winds.
Spain's state weather agency Aemet has warned that a heatwave will continue until Monday, with temperatures set to exceed 44C in some areas, raising concerns that the wildfires will spread further. Spain is the fifth European nation to request assistance with fighting wildfires. In Greece, 25,000 acres of land have burned since Tuesday.
In an interview with Cadena SER on Wednesday, Grande-Marlaska said he had requested two Canadair water bomber aircraft. Two French Canadair water bomber aircraft arrived in Spain's north-western Galicia region on Thursday.
"At the moment we don't need the two Canadair planes urgently but given the weather forecast, we want to have those planes in our national territory as soon as possible so they can be used, should they be necessary," he said. "The fight against fires knows no borders," government representative in the region Pedro Blanco said. "French resources are now in Spain to intensify efforts to extinguish forest fires."
"At this time, the government does not rule out requesting more firefighters." Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told local media on Wednesday that the two planes were not yet needed, but that the government wanted them in Spain so they could be put to use when necessary.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in Spain, with a further 700 moved out of the western city of Caceres on Wednesday, according to the country's civil guard. He told broadcaster Cadena SER that he had not ruled out requesting more firefighters.
A volunteer firefighter died in hospital in the north-western region of León on Thursday, after suffering severe burns.A volunteer firefighter died in hospital in the north-western region of León on Thursday, after suffering severe burns.
He became the second volunteer to die as a result of a fire in the region and the third person to die in total. Another man died near the capital, Madrid, on Tuesday. He became the second volunteer to die as a result of a fire in the region and the third person to die in total. Another man died near the capital, Madrid, last Tuesday.
"We are struck once again by the death of a second volunteer who has lost their life in León. All our love and support go out to their family and friends during this unbearable time," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday. "We are struck once again by the death of a second volunteer who has lost their life in León," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday. "All our love and support go out to their family and friends during this unbearable time."
"All government resources are working to address the difficult situation our country is facing. The threat remains extreme." Wildfires have consumed more than 157,000 hectares in Spain so far this year
Residents of Abejera de Tabara displaced by wildfires take shelter at the Leticia Rosino auditorium in Tabara, Zamora, Spain Spain's Civil Guard said it had arrested two men on suspicion of starting fires in Castille and León that had spread across thousands of hectares - taking the number of arson arrests to 10 since the start of June.
Spain is among several European countries experiencing scorching temperatures and battling wildfires that have asked the EU for help. While weather conditions are currently favourable for wildfires, they can be sparked by barbecues, cigarette stubs or discarded bottles. Causing a wildfire is a criminal offence in Spain, even if unintentional.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes across the country, with 700 told to leave their towns in the south-western province of Caceres on Wednesday.
Wildfires are a common occurrence across southern Europe in the summer, but their severity can often be exacerbated by heatwave conditions.
EU data shows that around 629,000 hectares (1.6 million acres) of land has burnt across the bloc since the beginning of the year, with wildfires in Spain comprising around a quarter of that total.
While linking climate change with individual extreme weather events can be difficult, scientists say that climate change is generally making heatwaves hotter, longer and more frequent.
Prolonged hot conditions can dry out the ground and vegetation, making it easier for wildfires to spread rapidly.
Dangerous wildfires have broken out in areas of Greece such as Achaia (pictured) and the island of Chios
Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have also activated the EU's civil protection mechanism, which allows any country hit by a disaster - both in Europe and beyond - to request emergency assistance.Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have also activated the EU's civil protection mechanism, which allows any country hit by a disaster - both in Europe and beyond - to request emergency assistance.
European countries were sending aircraft to those that had requested help, in addition to pre-positioned firefighters already providing assistance in Greece. In Greece, wildfires have been burning for a third consecutive day, with the most dangerous fronts on the island of Chios and in the Achaia region of the Peloponnese.
There, wildfires have been burning for a third consecutive day, with the most dangerous fronts on the island of Chios and in the Achaia region of the Peloponnese. So far, 95 people - including both firefighters and civilians - have been injured.
So far, 95 people - including firefighters - have been injured. Satellite data from the EU's Copernicus Emergency Management Service shows that more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) have burned across the country since Tuesday morning. EU data shows that more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) have burned across the country since Tuesday morning.
Authorities have issued a red alert for Thursday, warning of very high fire risk in Attica, eastern Central Greece, Evia, the north-eastern Peloponnese, and Thrace.Authorities have issued a red alert for Thursday, warning of very high fire risk in Attica, eastern Central Greece, Evia, the north-eastern Peloponnese, and Thrace.
In Chios, the fire's front has stretched for dozens of kilometres, and with limited resources available, many residents have had to be evacuated by sea using coastguard and private vessels. In Chios, the fire's front stretched for dozens of kilometres, and with limited resources available, many residents have had to be evacuated by sea using coastguard and private vessels.
Authorities said three men had been arrested for a fire near the port city of Patras, which began earlier this week and pockets of whcih continue to burn.
Fires have also raged in Albania and Turkey, with several firefighters injured while tackling the blazes.Fires have also raged in Albania and Turkey, with several firefighters injured while tackling the blazes.
Firefighters have been tackling wildfires on the island of Chios in Greece over the last few days
EU data shows that roughly 439,000 hectares of land have burnt since the beginning of the year due to wildfires, compared to 187,643 hectares (464,000 acres) last year.
A total of 1,628 fires have been detected since the start of the year.
Additional reporting by Nikos Papanikolaou in GreeceAdditional reporting by Nikos Papanikolaou in Greece