The Heat and Wildfire Crisis Extends Beyond Greece
The disaster in Greece is part of a larger crisis unfolding across countries in the Mediterranean, which have been experiencing extreme heat, prolonged drought, and raging wildfires, all hallmarks of the climate crisis. Heat warnings have been issued in a number of countries in southern Europe, and the European Union on Tuesday said it would send firefighting assistance to Greece and other countries in the region fighting wildfires, including Italy, Albania, and North Macedonia.
Turkey is also experiencing devastating wildfires for the seventh straight day this week. Ground temperatures in parts of Greece and Turkey reached more than 127 degrees Fahrenheit (53 degrees Celsius) on Tuesday, and parts of the country have consistently logged air temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) in recent days.
