RAGING INFERNO
In Spain, three people, including volunteer firefighters, died amid dozens of wildfires this week, as the country baked in a heat wave for an 11th day with temperatures as high as 44 degrees Celsius in some areas, expected to last until Monday.
Local media identified the latest victim as 37-year-old Jaime Aparicio, who suffered burns to 85 per cent of his body after being trapped alongside another volunteer firefighter as they attempted to create firebreaks with brush cutters.
On Thursday, 11 large fires threatened built-up areas, forcing authorities to evacuate over 9,000 residents, and to cut off roads and suspend rail services.
In Portugal, nearly 1,000 firefighters battled a blaze near the scenic mountain village of Piodao. Crews managed to bring under control a wildfire burning for 11 days – the longest for this season – in the mountainous area of Vila Real in the north.
In Albania, soldiers, firefighters, and volunteers, supported by helicopters and an Italian Canadair fire jet, battled to contain separate fronts in the Sopot area between Delvina and Gjirokastra on Thursday after blazes raging for days damaged dozens of homes and charred agricultural land.
