Wildfires surge in Mediterranean heat

The area burned by wildfires raging throughout the Mediterranean has already eclipsed yearly averages, with human-induced climate change believed to be the key driver of the extreme heat

Wildfires
(Jul 10-Aug 9)

Greece: Worst heatwave in 30 years. Thousands of hectares destroyed on island of Evia

Italy: Sicily and Sardinia among hardest hit regions

Turkey: Worst ever wildfires kill at least eight people

Sardinia
ITALY
Sicily
CROATIA
Mediterranean Sea
SERBIA
Evia
GREECE
Cyprus
Black Sea
TURKEY


AREAS BURNT IN EU COUNTRIES 
(Thousand hectares*)

2021
Average 2008-20

321 
295
161

*Shows only around 80% of area burned, as only fires larger than 30ha are mapped

400
320
240
160
80
0
Jan 1 	Aug 9 	Dec 30


Source: European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)
Picture: Newscom 
© GRAPHIC NEWS