Wildfires spread in Greece, U.S. amid heat wave
- 6 years ago
Amid a global heat wave, wildfires continue to spread in Greece and the U.S.
The death toll from the worst forest fires in Greece in more than a decade has now reached at least 80.
The intense heat is also feeding wildfires in the Western United States.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram.. what's the latest?
Well Semin… In Greece, the search for people missing from Monday's rapidly spreading wildfires is continuing.
As you said, at least 80 people have died and officials say it is unlikely they will find any more survivors, so the death toll could rise further.
The blaze started in the resort town of Mati, near Athens, causing residents to flee towards the sea.
But many were burned alive as the pace in which the fire spread was too quick for them to escape.
More than 70 people were being treated in hospital as of Wednesday - 10 of them in serious condition.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared a state of emergency and some of Greece's neighbors have offered assistance.
Meanwhile in the U.S., the so-called Ferguson Fire, which has been burning for about two weeks now, has forced thousands to flee California's Yosemite Valley.
Some areas of Yosemite National Park, a popular tourist destination, have also been closed.
More than three thousand firefighters have so far managed to contain about 25 percent of the Ferguson Fire, but scorching weather conditions and high winds are forecast for the next couple of days in the region.
Weather officials warn these conditions could lead to more wildfires there.
The death toll from the worst forest fires in Greece in more than a decade has now reached at least 80.
The intense heat is also feeding wildfires in the Western United States.
For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…
Aram.. what's the latest?
Well Semin… In Greece, the search for people missing from Monday's rapidly spreading wildfires is continuing.
As you said, at least 80 people have died and officials say it is unlikely they will find any more survivors, so the death toll could rise further.
The blaze started in the resort town of Mati, near Athens, causing residents to flee towards the sea.
But many were burned alive as the pace in which the fire spread was too quick for them to escape.
More than 70 people were being treated in hospital as of Wednesday - 10 of them in serious condition.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared a state of emergency and some of Greece's neighbors have offered assistance.
Meanwhile in the U.S., the so-called Ferguson Fire, which has been burning for about two weeks now, has forced thousands to flee California's Yosemite Valley.
Some areas of Yosemite National Park, a popular tourist destination, have also been closed.
More than three thousand firefighters have so far managed to contain about 25 percent of the Ferguson Fire, but scorching weather conditions and high winds are forecast for the next couple of days in the region.
Weather officials warn these conditions could lead to more wildfires there.