Greece fires – live: New wildfires erupt on mainland as several areas still at ‘extreme risk’

Deadly wildfires erupted on Greece’s mainland, killing two as it scorched the land and left a path of destruction in its wake. The coastal area of Magnesia and city of Volos were gripped by engulfing flames on Wednesday evening, forcing the evacuation of several local communities fleeing to safety. It comes as the Greek fire brigade warned the risk of fire remained “extreme” for several areas of the country on Thursday, with climate crisis minister, Vassilis Kikilias, echoing: “Nothing is over, the battle will continue throughout the summer.” High temperatures and winds have created a “perfect storm” to allow the fires to spread this week in Europe and north Africa including Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, France, Croatia, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia. As the threat lingers in Rhodes, TUI has said customers booked “on a package holiday to a hotel in the south of the island” have the option to “rebook or amend their holiday, or cancel with a full refund” upto and including 11 August. Read More Where are the wildfires? The nine affected countries mapped More than 40 people killed as wildfires rage in nine Mediterranean countries in record heatwave UK’s 40C summer of 2022 ‘will seem cool’ as extreme weather events become frequent, Met Office warns When will heatwave in Europe end? New forecast shows relief in sight