By Warrence Oghenevwegba 

Published on: July 30, 2024, 4:15 P.M

North Macedonia’s crisis management officials report that thousands of hectares are ablaze, with half the country engulfed in flames. Strong winds are complicating firefighting efforts, according to Goran Stojanovski, an official from the department.

In Croatia, a fire is scorching about 450 hectares (1,100 acres) of pine forest around the coastal town of Sibenik.

In Greece, over 200 firefighters, supported by helicopters and water-dropping planes, are working to contain a major blaze on Evia, the country’s second-largest island. Authorities have evacuated two villages to protect residents. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis describes the summer as exceptionally challenging and warns that August will likely remain difficult.

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The frequency of wildfires in Greece is increasing due to hotter and drier summers linked to climate change. This year alone has seen hundreds of new fires, following over 8,000 blazes last year and record-breaking heat in June along with a prolonged heatwave.