Wildfires burning across Mediterranean

A heatwave fed by hot air from North Africa has engulfed large parts of the Mediterranean region in recent days, contributing to massive wildfires and killing dozens of people in Italy, Turkey and Algeria


Burnt areas (Aug 5-12, 2021) 

Algeria: At least 65 people killed by wildfires, including 28 soldiers

Sicily: 48.8°C recorded on Aug 11 – highest ever temperature in Europe

SPAIN
ALGERIA
FRANCE
TUNISIA
ITALY
Mediterranean Sea
BOSNIA- HERZ.
GREECE
TURKEY

500km 310 miles


AREA BURNED BY WILDFIRES*
Year to Aug 12 (thousand hectares)

2021
2008-2020 average

Turkey		177
Greece		113
Italy		111
Algeria		62	
Bosnia-Herz.	45
France		23
Tunisia		20

*Represents about 80 percent of total area burned, as only fires larger than 30 hectares are mapped


Sources: Associated Press, EFFIS, Reuters 
Picture: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS