A forest fire in Switzerland has forced the evacuation of several towns since Monday. The flames are still out of control, fought by some 150 firefighters, supported by the police and civil protection.
The fire broke out in a mountainous region in Bitsch, in the Valais canton, and is spreading to the Ried-Morel-Riederhorn region, Swiss authorities say in a statement.
Field operations are supported by a Swiss Army helicopter and four Air Zermatt helicopters, which are normally used for snow rescues.
Bitsch: set fire to the forest
An important intervention device is quickly in place. Celui-ci fight encore against le feu qui spreads rapidly. Les travaux d’extinction se poursuivent. pic.twitter.com/Qnf3rK3aFk
– Police Valais (@PoliceValais) July 17, 2023
As the flames are consuming a forested area on the mountain, another big concern for authorities is potential landslides.
An investigation was opened to determine the causes of the fire.
Switzerland is affected by the anticyclone Charon, which this week is causing a wave of heat in several European countries, and the World Meteorological Organization warns of record temperatures.
In Greece, two fires in the southeast of Athens have endangered several homes, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people. Temperatures above 40ºC and winds of 50 kilometers per hour make it difficult to fight the flames, which reached a front of 12 kilometers.
Source: TSF
