Wildfires ravage Greece: A look back at deadliest blazes in the Mediterranean

Wildfires are wreaking havoc in the Mediterranean. On Tuesday, many regions experienced a severe summer temperature, as firemen worked to put out fires across the region. At least 34 have died in Algeria. In Croatia, flames came within 12 km (7.5 miles) of the medieval town of Dubrovnik late on Tuesday. Greece evacuated more than 20,000 people in recent days from homes and resorts in the south of the holiday island of Rhodes . Fires swept across Portugal and Spain’s Gran Canaria. Italy has also been affected hard. As the countries are battling massive wildfires that have ripped through homes and resorts, killing dozens of people in nightmarish scenes that have become a staple of summer in the Mediterranean. We take a look at the deadliest wildfires in the region since 2000. Algeria in 2021 and 2022 More than 90 people, including 33 soldiers, were killed in dozens of wildfires in Algeria in August 2021. The government blamed arsonists and a blistering heatwave for the blazes, but experts also criticised authorities for failing to prepare for the annual wildfire season. [caption id=“attachment_12915142” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A forest ranger works to douse hotspots in an area hit by a wildfire, in Adekar, in Bejaia province, Algeria. Reuters[/caption] In August 2022, massive blazes killed 37 people over several days in northeastern El Tarf province, near the border with Tunisia. More than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) went up in smoke in El Kala National Park, a UNESCO-listed heritage spot famous for its rich marine, dune, lake and forest ecosystems. Greece in 2007 and 2018 In Greece’s worst-ever fire disaster, 102 people died when wildfires swept through homes and vehicles in the coastal town of Mati near Athens in July 2018, leaving only charred remains. The majority of the victims were trapped by the flames as they sat in traffic jams while trying to flee. Others drowned while trying to escape by sea. **Also Read: How did the Greece wildfires start? Where are they spreading?** In 2007, a 12-day inferno starting in late August killed at least 67 people and destroyed 800 homes across the southern Peloponnese peninsula. The flames engulfed most of the region’s olive groves. The Aegean Island of Evia was also badly affected. In all 77 people died that summer due to fires. Portugal in 2017 The deadliest wildfires in Portuguese history broke out in the central Leiria region during a heatwave in June 2017 and burned through hills covered with pine and eucalyptus trees for five days. [caption id=“attachment_12915172” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Local residents use buckets with water to try to slow down flames approaching their houses in Alcabideche, outside Lisbon. AP[/caption] Many of the 63 people who died became trapped in their cars while trying to escape. In October, a new series of deadly fires broke out in northern Portugal, killing another 45 people as well as four in neighbouring Spain. Those fires were chiefly blamed on arsonists. Israel in 2010 The worst inferno in Israel’s history raged through Carmel Forest, south of the coastal city of Haifa for four days, in December 2010, killing 44 people and destroying hundreds of homes. **Also Read: How and why wildfires are scorching Europe** Most of the victims were prison guards trapped in their bus as they raced to help evacuate a prison from the approaching flames. With inputs from AFP