Wildfires have destroyed more than one million hectares of forest across the European Union since January, the highest level of devastation recorded since monitoring began in 2006, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
The threshold was crossed Thursday at midday, with 1,015,731 hectares burned, surpassing the 2017 record of 988,524 hectares. The affected area exceeds the size of Cyprus.
Spain has suffered the greatest losses, with more than 400,000 hectares scorched, accounting for nearly 40 percent of EU totals, and four fatalities reported in western regions. Portugal follows with 274,000 hectares destroyed, while Romania has lost 126,000 hectares. France recorded 35,600 hectares burned, primarily in the Aude region after a massive blaze in early August.
EFFIS data, linked to the EU Copernicus climate program, shows Spain, Cyprus, Germany, and Slovakia enduring their worst fire seasons in two decades.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.