Post by : Badri Ariffin

Hundreds of firefighters remained on the front lines on Sunday as large wildfires continued to burn across Portugal, Greece and Spain. Emergency crews worked to control multiple blazes while international support was sent to Portugal, where one of the country's biggest fires has been burning for more than three days.

Spain and Italy provided additional firefighting resources to help Portuguese authorities tackle the rapidly spreading wildfire.

Toxic Smoke Prompts Health Warning in Greece

In northern Greece, authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, the country's second-largest city, to stay indoors because of heavy toxic smoke coming from a recycling plant that caught fire after being engulfed by a wildfire.

Officials advised people to keep their windows and doors closed to reduce exposure to the hazardous smoke.

Large Wildfire Breaks Out Near Athens

Another significant wildfire started on Sunday afternoon west of the Greek capital, Athens, increasing pressure on emergency services.

According to the fire department, 210 firefighters were deployed to the Mandra area to battle the blaze burning through pine forests. The operation was supported by volunteers, specialized firefighting teams and 29 aircraft, including water-dropping planes and helicopters.

Firefighters worked to contain the flames before nightfall, as aerial firefighting operations cannot continue after dark.

Portugal Deploys More Than 1,200 Firefighters

In central Portugal, emergency crews continued battling a major wildfire in the Vouzela area that first broke out on Thursday.

The country's Civil Protection authority said that more than 1,200 firefighters, supported by nearly 400 vehicles and 15 aircraft, were involved in efforts to control the fire. Data from the European Union's Copernicus satellite mapping agency showed that the wildfire had already burned approximately 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) by Sunday.

Spain and Italy Send International Assistance

The European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department confirmed that international assistance had been mobilized to support Portugal's firefighting efforts. Spain sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to Portugal on Friday, while three firefighting aircraft from Spain and Italy were also deployed to help contain the large wildfire.

#Global News #Global Updates #wildlife #World News