The losses are huge..the high temperature increases its scope and becomes difficult to combat
Sweeping forest fires are becoming more frequent and include all over the world
Fire devours a house after a forest fire in California.
Reuters
Plumes of smoke rise after a forest fire in Lisbon.
Reuters
Locals trying to put out a forest fire in Greece.
Reuters
Firefighters are having trouble battling fires in California.
Reuters
Fire devours a house after a forest fire in California.
Reuters
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Sweeping fires that were once rare are becoming more frequent, burning longer and worldwide, aided at least in part by climate change that is causing a huge increase in fire size and intensity even in winter.
In the first half of 2022, wildfires destroyed large areas of farmland, towns and homes.
And their number is likely to increase, while the world is witnessing more heat waves and record-breaking droughts.
The following is a list of sweeping wildfires around the world recorded in 2022, classified by continents:
■■ Asia
■ South Korea
(Uljin County): The fire broke out on March 4 in the eastern coastal province of Uljin, near the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, and spread across the nearby city of Samto, destroying more than 14,800 acres, destroying at least 159 homes and killing 6,200 people. to leave the area, according to a report published by the Associated Press.
Then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered an all-out effort to protect the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant from forest fires.
■■ Africa
■ Morocco
(Northern Region - Taza): A number of fires broke out, starting on June 13, in the provinces of Larache, Ouazzane and Tetouan in the north of the country, and in the province of Taza in the southeast of the country.
The fire devoured at least 4,000 acres of forest, damaged many homes and killed one person, according to France 24 television.
The fires forced 1,100 people to flee from 15 villages in Larache, while 645 residents were evacuated from Taza and Tetouan, according to media reports.
■■ Europe
■ France
(Girond): Two fires have raged in the Gironde region, southwest France, since June 12, one on the Atlantic coast, and the other in the town of Landera, south of Bordeaux.
The two fires, which were ignited by drought and temperatures that rose to 42.6 degrees Celsius, caused the burning of about 47,700 acres as of July 19.
About 34,000 people were ordered to leave the area.
■ Spain
(Zamora): The fire broke out last June 15 in the Zamora region and was helped by a record-breaking heat wave.
The flames burned at least 61,000 acres, and more than 6,000 people were evacuated from 32 villages in the area.
The fire claimed two lives and injured three others.
(Sierra Bermega): A fire broke out last June 8 in Malaga province on the slopes of Mount Bugera in Sierra Bermega.
The fire destroyed 8,600 acres of forest and bushland, and caused the evacuation of 2,000 people from the nearby town of Benavis.
The fire has now stabilized.
■ Turkey
(Mugla): A forest fire broke out on July 13, near the town of Marmaris in the Aegean province of Mugla, and spread through the forests in the area with few people.
The fire destroyed about 17 homes and 1,700 acres of land.
About 450 homes and 3,530 people were evacuated.
■ Portugal
(Morca): A forest fire broke out on July 17 in the Morca region in northern Portugal, and spread towards Vila Boca de Aguiar and Carazido de Montenegro.
The fire damaged an area of 14,800 acres, according to the "Copernicus Earth Observation Program" of the European Union.
An elderly couple was found dead inside a burning car.
(Orim): Several forest fires broke out on the 7th of July, in Lyria and Santarim districts in Orem district.
And burned more than 7,413 hectares, and the authorities closed the main highways and side roads, while strong winds hindered the firefighting teams from performing their work.
The most important highway in Portugal was also closed due to another fire that broke out to the south.
■■ North America
■ United States
(California - Yosemite National Park): A fire broke out on July 8 in a portion of Yosemite National Park in California, which is home to some of the largest and oldest giant sequoia trees in the world.
The fire consumed 3,772 acres, according to a report published by the InsiWeb information system as of July 13.
As of July 11, none of the known sequoia trees in Yosemite were affected.
(Arizona): A so-called pipe fire broke out last April 17 in the National Forest, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Lake Bell Park, north of Flagstaff, Arizona.
The fire destroyed more than 20,000 acres and prompted the authorities to compel residents of more than 2,100 homes to leave.
(New Mexico): The combination of the Hermits Peak Fire in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in San Miguel County, and the Calve Canyon Fire in East Santa Fe is the largest fire in the state of New Mexico to date.
The two fires broke out on April 6 and 19, respectively, and burned 341,735 acres as of July 15, according to a report published by "Santa Fe National Forest Services."
Flames are now 93% contained.
(California-Big Sur): A rare winter fire, called the Colorado Fire, burned 1,050 acres south of Monterey, just north of California's Big Sur, from Jan. 21-24.
It caused the evacuation of about 500 people under evacuation orders and caused the closure of a major highway.
■ Canada
(British Columbia): A fire broke out on July 14 near the village of Lytton, British Columbia, the largest wildfire in the province so far this year, according to the BBC Wildfire Service.
The day after the fire broke out, about 2,000 acres were burned, and local authorities issued evacuation orders to owners of real estate near the fire, while asking residents of the “First Nation” reserves to leave the area.
■■ South America
■ Argentina
Corrientes: The Corrientes fire broke out in the province of Corrientes, near the Paraguay border on February 7, destroying about 2,223,948 acres of forest and grassland, representing about 12% of the province.
And the fires displaced or killed several wild animals such as pigs, tamed wolves, crocodiles, deer, and other species.
Spanish Prime Minister: More than 500 deaths linked to the heat wave
The heat wave that has hit Spain 10 days ago has killed more than 500 people, according to what Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a few days ago during a trip to Aragon, the northern region of the country affected by the fires.
He added, "During the heat wave, more than 500 people died due to high temperatures, according to statistics," referring to estimates of the increase in death rates published by the Institute of Public Health.
He stated that he "asked the population to be very careful, and that the climate emergency is a reality."
A heat wave swept through Spain that affected most parts of western Europe, which led to a rise in temperatures to 45 degrees Celsius in some areas last week, and caused dozens of forest fires to erupt.
Sanchez pointed to data from the Carlos III Institute of Health, which estimates the number of heat-related deaths based on the number of excess deaths when comparing the numbers with rates recorded in previous years.
In recent days, the institute pointed out that its data are statistical estimates and are not an official death toll.
A severe heat wave affects 100 million people
Last week, vast areas of the United States experienced an unprecedented heat wave, which raised temperatures to record levels in many regions, prompting meteorologists to warn of the dangers of drought and exposure to sunlight.
The National Weather Service said nearly 100 million Americans, from New York City in the east to Las Vegas on the west coast, experienced dangerous temperature indicators in excess of 38 degrees Celsius and were the target of heat warnings and advisories throughout the day.
She advised residents to stay at home, avoid strenuous activities, and keep themselves hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
The administration said temperatures broke daily records across Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas last Wednesday.
Air pollution is another health hazard during a heat wave, as pollution from the electricity grid can double when power plants operate at full capacity during periods of extreme heat.
Irkut Corporation, the Texas power grid operator, asked state environmental regulators this week to use their discretion when power plants exceed pollution limits.
Heat spoils horse tourism in Vienna
While large areas of Europe are under an exceptional heat wave, the drivers of traditional tourist horse carriages in Vienna are worried about the future, in light of mounting pressures from animal welfare groups that refuse to "torture" horses.
At the stables of one of the leading companies in the field in the Austrian capital, horse driver Marco Polandt explains how the animals adapt to the increasing heat and get their breaks.
Right-wing activists call for lowering the maximum temperature threshold at which horses are allowed to run from the current 35 degrees Celsius to 30, but horse drivers and owners of the companies they work in consider that walking with this requirement may destroy their centuries-old profession.
"We can all live with a temperature of 35, but going below that is not good for horses, and we will have to discuss the economic consequences of such a decision," Bolandt told AFP.
The 28-year-old, originally from Vienna, pointed out that horses trained to pull wagons need this activity, while their drivers need the financial return that comes from it.
During the hottest days, carriage drivers make sure their animals drink enough water, choosing locations in the shade during the afternoons when waiting for customers.
"The climate is changing and the weather is getting hotter," Bolandt stressed, adding: "Of course the situation is changing, as it was forbidden for us to work horses seven days a year, or thirty days a year."
About 300 horses still pull carts around Vienna, especially in the city center and other tourist sites, creating thousands of job opportunities, Bolandt said.
“I realized that no one can explain to people how things work,” the horse driver said, speaking of the strict rules and regular veterinary checkups that need to be done to keep the horses safe.
This economic activity has been hit hard by the closure measures since the start of the “Covid-19” pandemic in 2020, but it has begun to recover rapidly this year.
However, animal rights activists say that horses suffer greatly from this situation, especially during periods of extreme heat.
"This work is clearly linked to animal torture," said Associate Against Animal Factors activist David Wenzel.
Horses sometimes work under the sun in a temperature of 34.5 degrees Celsius.”
He added, "They are exposed to noise, smoke, traffic jams and, of course, stress."
And officials in the Vienna municipality intended last June to tighten the legislation in force in this framework, but in the end decided to postpone work on reducing the maximum temperature at which horses are allowed to run, pending a study next year.
Therefore, tourist horse carriages can continue to operate unless the temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius.
About 100 million Americans, from New York City in the east to Las Vegas on the west coast, experienced dangerous temperature indicators in excess of 38 degrees Celsius, and were the target of heat warnings and advice throughout the day. Residents were advised to stay indoors, avoid strenuous activities, and keep themselves hydrated.
The fires forced 1,100 people to flee from 15 villages in Larache, Morocco, while 645 residents were evacuated from Taza and Tetouan, according to media reports.
In the first half of 2022, wildfires consumed large areas of agriculture and destroyed towns and homes. And their number is likely to increase, while the world is witnessing more heat waves and record-breaking droughts.
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