Thousands evacuated as wildfires spread across Europe

WorldEnvironment
28 Jul 2025 • 11:33 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Wildfires across Turkey have claimed 17 lives and forced thousands to evacuate, with three firefighters dying near Bursa, where 3,500 people fled their homes.
  • Turkish authorities battled 84 fires, with 3,000 hectares scorched around Bursa, and declared Izmir and Bilecik disaster areas.
  • Greece experienced 55 wildfires in 24 hours, leading to evacuations in Athens suburbs, with five blazes still active.
  • Unseasonably high temperatures, including a record 50.5C in Turkey, coupled with dry conditions and strong winds, are fuelling severe wildfires across Europe.
  • Other European nations affected include Spain, where two died in a Catalonia wildfire, and France, where a blaze near Marseille injured 110 people.

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