Fires wreak havoc in Turkey and Greece amid strong winds
6:04 AM EDT, June 30, 2024
A fire broke out in the province of Izmir, Turkey. Due to strong winds, the fire spread rapidly. Photos and videos showing the extent of the tragedy are appearing on the internet.
The fire is raging in Izmir. The road connecting the city of Selcuk and the resort town of Kusadasi has been closed. The fire also appeared in the resort town of Cesme and along the highway connecting Izmir with Cesme. The situation is serious. Photos and videos can be seen online.
Smoke plumes are visible from a distance.
Residents are alarmed as the fire continues to grow.
Fire also in Greece
About 200 firefighters battled on Saturday against a large forest fire covering the Parnitha mountain range north of Athens. On that day, approximately 50 fires broke out in Greece, and half of the country is in a high fire-risk zone.
Authorities said in the evening that the fire near Athens had weakened, but about 200 firefighters supported by firefighting planes are still battling it. The effort is hindered by strong winds, with gusts exceeding 62 mph, reported Reuters.
