Wednesday, September 18, 2024 Europe has been facing an onslaught of extreme weather events, with multiple countries struggling to cope with wildfires and floods that have claimed numerous lives and caused widespread devastation. In Portugal, wildfires are raging across vast areas of the country, while in Central Europe, Storm Boris has triggered catastrophic flooding that is now threatening parts of Italy. The combination of these disasters has left authorities scrambling to contain the damage, as thousands of firefighters battle blazes and emergency responders work to rescue flood victims.
Portugal has been particularly hard-hit by wildfires, with over 5,000 firefighters deployed to control the situation. The hot and dry conditions, which are conducive to wildfires, arrived at the same time that central European countries, including Romania, Austria, and Poland, were being inundated by torrential rains brought by Storm Boris. In Italy, heavy rains are forecasted to drench regions such as Emilia-Romagna and Lazio, with authorities issuing yellow weather alerts for the upcoming days.
The toll from these extreme weather events has been deadly. In northern Portugal, at least six people have died, including four firefighters who were working to control the fires. Hundreds of others have been forced to flee their homes as the flames spread across the countryside.
The National Civil Protection Authority in Portugal reported that over 100 fires had broken out in the country, leavin.