World on fire alert: Bulgaria battles raging wildfires amid scorching heat
A red fire alert was issued on Saturday in 21 out of 28 regions of Bulgaria. Forests and grasslands are burning across the country, and the situation is so severe that the military has been deployed to fight the blaze.
3:54 PM EDT, July 13, 2024
The worst-affected areas are in the central and southeastern parts of the country. The Chief of the Fire Department, Aleksandr Dzharov, reported that the most intense fires are in four regions around the towns of Topolovgrad and Ivaylovgrad, near the Turkish border. Heavy equipment and helicopters have been dispatched to combat the flames, and paths are being cut in the forests to prevent the fire from spreading. Over 50 acres of forest have burned.
In several villages, the fire reached homes; houses were burned down in the villages of Srem and Madzharovo. So far, there have been no casualties. However, due to the very high temperatures, the situation remains dangerous.
Large fires persist around Plovdiv in the central part of the country and Kyustendil in the west. The fire department has called for volunteer assistance, and over 60 people have volunteered near Plovdiv.
The weather has been scorching and dry for several weeks, with temperatures exceeding 86°F and reaching up to 104°F in the southwest. Forecasts do not indicate any decrease in temperatures over the next 10 days.
Heatwave in the south
A serious situation is also unfolding in neighboring Romania. Romanian meteorologists warn of extreme heat over the weekend and next week. Records will be broken in many places, with daytime temperatures surpassing 104°F and nighttime temperatures approaching 86°F.
