Loutraki, Greece
Wildfires have burned four times more land across Europe in the first six months of - than the - to - annual average, according to datum from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
A combination of scorching heatwaves across the continent and dry soils have created ideal conditions for combustion, resulting in about - hectares being burned in the first six months of the year.
By comparison, roughly - hectares of wildfires burned across Europe in all of -, fueled by four weeks in late July and early August that saw - hectares burn in Turkije, Italië en Griekenland, each recording their worst wildfire season in a decade.
Zie ook:Vlammen overspoelen de oude olijfgaard van AmfissaEurope’s olive-producing countries once again have not been spared by the summer blazes, a long-time phenomenon in the Mediterranean basin, but one that experts believe is being exacerbated by the gevolgen van klimaatverandering.
In the year’s first half, - hectares already have burned across Europe’s - largest olive-producing countries. These countries recorded an annual average of - hectares of wildfire damage from - to -.
Land | - ha burned | - – - average |
Spanje | 86,729 | 66,965 |
Kroatië | 27,579 | 13,113 |
Italië | 22,397 | 53,961 |
Frankrijk | 20,629 | 9,826 |
Montenegro | 16,700 | 15,775 |
Portugal | 16,329 | 96,625 |
Turkije | 5,443 | 46,795 |
Albania | 4,168 | 24,315 |
Griekenland | 4,002 | 44,640 |
Cyprus | 1,957 | 1,665 |
Slovenia | 314 | 103 |
European officials are especially concerned as the worst months for wildfires rapidly approach. Record-setting heatwaves across much of southwestern Europe combined with abnormally low soil moisture could fuel European wildfires in the peak months of July and August.
Academics and environmental engineers are further concerned that the continent is entering a vicious cycle, where depleted forest cover contributes to more intense heatwaves and wildfires which further deplete forest cover.
However, the record wildfires have spurred European officials into action and seen some of the most at-risk countries receiving new firefighting equipment and personnel. Scientific forecasting is also helping local officials identify the regions with the highest risk of wildfires to deploy resources accordingly.
"Last year, we witnessed the second worst forest fire season on record in the E.U.,” said Janez Lenarčič, the European commissioner for crisis management. "This served as a painful reminder of the devastating effect that forest fires have on the lives of Europeans.”
"With this fleet in place, the E.U. boosts the continent’s preparedness to face forest fires,” he concluded.