Inferno Across Borders: Wildfires Rage in Southeast Europe

Southeast Europe is grappling with severe wildfires. In Turkey, fires near Bursa posed significant threats, while Greece and Bulgaria also battled massive blazes, prompting cross-border assistance. Extreme temperatures, strong winds, and human negligence have exacerbated the situation, leading to evacuations, deaths, and prosecutions across the impacted regions.

Southeast Europe is in crisis as widespread wildfires wreak havoc across the region, threatening homes and lives. In Turkey, fires erupted near the city of Bursa, prompting firefighting operations which have seen intense blazes brought under some control, according to Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli.

The crisis extends beyond Turkey's borders. In Greece, efforts were underway to control a blaze near a university campus in Athens. Greek firefighters received aerial support to tackle the flames, while high winds in the region threatened to escalate the fires on the island of Kythera.

Bulgaria sought help from Turkish firefighters to combat a large fire near Lesovo. The collaboration is part of a broader effort involving cross-border assistance from several EU countries. With heatwaves and strong winds prevailing, the region's authorities have identified human negligence as a major factor in the fires' origins.

(With inputs from agencies.)