Greece - "Apocalyptic" wildfire near Athens kills at least 50. Still raging. 24 July 2018

[JerseyGirl]

Sweden also battling wildfires:

Sweden fire map: Sweden battles 21 raging wildfires amid worst drought in 74 years

 

[whatsnext]

In Germany we also have more problems than usual with fires. The ongoing heat is quite unusual, it feels like it last rained ages ago.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Sweden also battling wildfires:

Sweden fire map: Sweden battles 21 raging wildfires amid worst drought in 74 years

And in Finland and the Baltic States. There have been a few relatively fires in Norway as well.

Leaving aside the possibility of arson, we are seeing unprecedented fire dangers across Western, Northern and Baltic states.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

In Germany we also have more problems than usual with fires. The ongoing heat is quite unusual, it feels like it last rained ages ago.

Indeed. This is a situation for states within and without the EU to work together to confront a common danger.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

So far, here in the UK we haven't had any many problems with forest fires but we have seen wildfires in the Pennine moorlands. It's the nature of peat that fire goes underground and can smoulder for many months, with the risk that it can break out again at the surface with little warning.

 

[Jax49]

Search for Greece wildfire survivors

The search for survivors is continuing in Greece, where at least 74 people have died in wildfires near the capital Athens.

On Tuesday, the bodies of 26 adults and children who apparently died embracing each other were found on a cliff top.

"They had tried to find an escape route but unfortunately these people and their kids didn't make it in time. Instinctively, seeing the end nearing, they embraced, " Nikos Economopoulos, head of Greece's Red Cross, said.

 

[whatsnext]

Search for Greece wildfire survivors

Just heartbreaking

 

[AliceInPain]

Lots of pictures and videos from the Greece fires, and posts seeking missing people, many children, here:
Forecast Weather Greece

It's an FB page for Greece weather, I hope it's allowed.
I didn't realise it was this bad until a Greek friend on FB posted pictures just now. Horrifying. I hope they get all the help they need to put this inferno out! =*(

 

[AliceInPain]

 

[MelmothTheLost]

The Mail's article on the fires now mentions an Irish woman on honeymoon who has been seriously burned. Her husband is currently missing.

Irish bride hospitalised and husband still missing in Greek fire | Daily Mail Online

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Just heartbreaking

It is. The most important thing to parents is keeping their kids safe and knowing that they have done so. These parents died knowing they had failed in that.

 

[whatsnext]

I really wish they would change the "like" button to "thanks" . Reading about those tragedies and "liking" them makes me feel bad.

 

[JerseyGirl]

In other wildfire news from around the world ...

Heart of Yosemite to close as crews battle raging wildfire

Campsites and lodges emptied out after disappointed tourists were ordered to leave the heart of Yosemite National Park by noon Wednesday, as firefighters battled to contain a huge wildfire just to the west that has threatened the park's forest and sent up smoke that obscured grand vistas of waterfalls and sheer granite faces.

Yosemite Valley will be closed until at least Sunday, along with a winding, mountainous, 20-mile (32-kilometer) stretch of California's State Route 41 that leads in.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Death toll in Greece up to 80, many missing...

'Armageddon' fire in Greece kills at least 80, many missing

 

[Suglo]

In other wildfire news from around the world ...

Heart of Yosemite to close as crews battle raging wildfire

Campsites and lodges emptied out after disappointed tourists were ordered to leave the heart of Yosemite National Park by noon Wednesday, as firefighters battled to contain a huge wildfire just to the west that has threatened the park's forest and sent up smoke that obscured grand vistas of waterfalls and sheer granite faces.

Yosemite Valley will be closed until at least Sunday, along with a winding, mountainous, 20-mile (32-kilometer) stretch of California's State Route 41 that leads in.

I’m currently less than two hours away. The smoke is awful and we are in the midst of another heat wave. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. So sad.

 

[Shiressleuth]

Death toll in Greece up to 80, many missing...

'Armageddon' fire in Greece kills at least 80, many missing

Terrible. Have to say, am glad this morning to have had storms and rain here in West Wales to finally dampen the brown, parched grass. I shall not moan about the weather again.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

Death toll in Greece up to 80, many missing...

'Armageddon' fire in Greece kills at least 80, many missing

Wow, I didn't realise the Irishman who was on honeymoon and is known to have died was the Irish ambassador to Greece.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Greece fire death toll at 91, 25 remain missing

The Latest: Greece fire death toll at 91, 25 remain missing

 

[MsFacetious]

This is so unbelievably scary. I can't even imagine. Not being able to protect my kids is my biggest fear.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Official death toll from Greek fire raised to 87, 1 missing

Coroners have so far identified 81 bodies recovered from the scene of the destruction in the coastal Mati region, or from the sea.

Another two bodies that have been burnt beyond recognition have not been identified or sought by their families, while an additional four people succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.

It was unclear whether other bodies remained unidentified.