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Wildfire in Rhodes Captured From Plane Amid Greek Heat Wave

A wildfire that broke out amid a historic heat wave on the Greek island of Rhodes on Sunday, August 1, causing extensive damage and burdening the electrical system, was in remission on Monday, local media reported.

Mayor of Rhodes Antonis Kampourakis on Monday said the fire was in remission on all fronts but, due to the ongoing risk posed by extreme heat, warned against complacency. A state of emergency was declared for the affected areas.

Greece’s national meteorological service on Monday said the “dangerous” heat wave that started Tuesday, July 27, would last for 11 days, making it “one of the strongest heat waves in at least 40 years.” With temperatures on Monday exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in several areas, fire crews were on high alert, Greek media reported.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday said the country was facing “the worst heat wave since 1987,” which was threatening to burden the country’s power system. “Everything humanly possible is being done to ensure the electricity of the country,” he said after an extraordinary meeting at the National Energy Control Center in Kryoneri. Mitsotakis urged people to limit electricity use by adjusting the temperature of air conditioners, and turning off electric water heaters and other electrical items when they are not in use.

The threat of heat and fire comes as authorities in neighboring Turkey continued to battle nine wildfires across four provinces, after crews had brought 129 fires under control over the previous six days, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Bekir Pakdemirli said on Monday. By Sunday, at least eight people had been killed in Turkey’s fires, according to health minister Dr Fahrettin Koca. Credit: @Koldeyyy1 via Storyful