Two people have been found dead after a wildfire burnt through a house northern Greece and caused a nearby village to be evacuated, according to the fire brigade.
The body of a man was found in a charred area near the village of Liti, about 15km north-west of Thessaloniki. A second body – currently unidentified – was found in a burnt-out house near the village.
Though its precise cause is still unknown, authorities said the fire began in dry bushland on Tuesday afternoon near Liti and reached the house as it quickly expanded to the surrounding area, fanned by strong winds.
A women rescued near the house with burn injuries is now reportedly recovering in hospital in a stable condition, while a 12-year-old-child has also been reported missing.
Some 100 firefighters, dozens of fire engines, and at least seven aircraft are working to contain the 5km-long forest fire.
Authorities advised residents of Liti to evacuate their homes and move to a nearby playing field.
Greek broadcaster ERT reported that several properties have been damaged by the fire and that by Tuesday evening it was nearby the village of Melissochori.
The wildfires follow an unprecedented heatwave across Europe, with record-breaking June temperatures recorded in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded since 21 June linked to high temperatures in Europe.
“Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average,” he warned.
“Heat stress is often called the ‘silent killer’ – and European homes, workplaces and schools were not built for these temperatures,” Tedros added.
Wildfires have become increasingly common in Greece and other Mediterranean countries. The region is now considered a wildfire hotspot by scientists due to the fast-warming climate creating hot and dry summers, resulting in more destructive blazes.
Last summer, more than 400 Greek firefighters battled severe wildfires across the country – primarily on the islands of Chios and Crete – when temperatures soared beyond 42°C.
