NOS News•
Forest fires near Athens displaced thousands of people in coastal cities. About 1,200 children have been evacuated from a summer camp.
Flames raged near their camp in the coastal town of Loutraki, about 80 kilometers west of the capital. The fire spreads quickly due to the strong winds. A large fire also broke out southeast of Athens.
About 200 firefighters are trying to fight the fire to prevent it from spreading. They are assisted by about twenty soldiers.
Pictures show how children and horses are being evacuated:
Large forest fires in Greece: People and animals must leave their homes
Greece is experiencing a severe heat wave. Last Friday the temperature was 44.2 degrees, in the hottest place in Greece, Thebes. Temperatures above 40 degrees were recorded at 87 weather stations. Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are also experiencing an extreme heat wave.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says the heatwave is expected to intensify by the middle of the week and is likely to last into August in some places.
“hotspot” of climate change
Two years ago, a report by the United Nations Climate Panel (IPCC) identified the Mediterranean as a climate change “hotspot”. If greenhouse gas emissions are not quickly reduced, the report says, there will be no exception for temperatures above 50 degrees later this century.
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