Hot Forest Fires In Albania Forced 2 Thousand Residents To Evacuate

ILLUSTRATION OF UNSPLASH/Malachi Brooks

JAKARTA - A devastating forest fire injured three people and forced about 2,000 residents to be evacuated near the city of Delvina, southern Albania.

"Three people suffered burns and shortness of breath," Deputy Mayor of Delvina, Brunilda Meleqi told Reuters on Saturday, July 26.

Six villages were vacated. It was reported that one church and 10 uninhabited houses were destroyed by the flames.

The intensity of the fire subsided on Friday, July 25 evening, after two helicopters were deployed to assist fire fighting efforts.

The Defense Ministry said about 60 troops had been deployed to help extinguish the fire.

Greece and the wider Balkan region were hit by the third heat wave this summer, with workers barred from work, tourists kept away from the rubble, and firefighters struggling to extinguish fires scattered in arid rural areas.