An overview of the deadliest wildfires in Europe

The recent wildfire in Greece, where at least 80 people died, is one of the deadliest forest fires in Europe throughout the 20th century. Over the years, forest fires have harvested many lives, mainly in Southern Europe.



Here are some of the deadliest in Europe:



 

Portugal 2017



64 people die and 250 are injured in the deadliest fire in Portugal's history, in June 2017. After a heat wave, fires started to burn in the Leiria region and the fire raged for five days.



 

Russia 2015



In April 2015, fires begins to burn in the Chakassien region in southeastern Siberia. Over 10,000 square kilometers of land was destroyed and 34 people died. In addition, hundreds of cows and sheep were killed.



 

Greece 2007



Devastating forest fires caused 77 people to die, with the worst hit area on the island of Evia, northeast of Athens.

France 1949



82 people died in what is described as the worst forest fires in France's history. The victims were firefighters, volunteers and soldiers who fought a forest fire in the Landes region in 1949. When the wind suddenly changed direction rescue workers ended trapped up in an inferno of fire.

Source: AFP news agency