Wildfires Rage in Southern Europe: Greece, Spain Battle Flames Amid Strong Winds

Greece is grappling with a severe wildfire crisis as strong winds ignite dozens of new blazes, stretching firefighting resources to their limits. Within a 24-hour period, around 60 new fires erupted across the country, according to fire department officials.

The coastal resort area of Porto Germeno, located about 60 kilometers west of Athens, has become a critical hotspot. Here, nearly 500 firefighters are engaged in a desperate battle against the flames. Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas described the conditions as "extremely difficult," noting that wind speeds, recorded by the National Observatory of Athens at up to 130 kilometers per hour, have hampered aerial firefighting efforts.

Residents in the Porto Germeno region face devastating losses, with reports from a civil protection official suggesting up to 150 homes may have been damaged or destroyed. "Many houses have been destroyed," confirmed one local resident to AFP, lamenting, "The fire was too strong, the wind was too strong. One could only watch as the fire raged."

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extremely difficult conditions

While the wind intensity decreased on Saturday, the threat remains high, particularly for the greater Athens area. Meanwhile, in Spain, a contingent of firefighters from North Rhine-Westphalia has arrived in the northwestern province of Zamora to lend support in combating ongoing wildfires there.

In total, approximately 220,000 people were advised to evacuate in recent days, though authorities report that most have since been able to return home. Active fire zones persist in some areas, preventing the return of many evacuees.

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Many houses have been destroyed. The fire was too strong, the wind was too strong. One could only watch as the fire raged.