Forest fires have cost Europe some 4.1 billion euros (4.43 billion dollars) in damage so far this year, as extreme heat ripped through the Mediterranean from Greece to Spain this summer.
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So far, almost 400,000 hectares of land across the continent have been destroyed by forest fires, according to the report by Distrelec, a major distributor of energy sector components, including sensors that warn of potential fires.
Greece, the most affected country
The country has witnessed the most destructive forest fires in 16 years.
The investigation was based on data from the European Forest Fire Information System.
Greece has suffered the most damage, with an estimated cost of 1.66 billion euros (1.8 billion dollars). and more than 161,000 hectares of land destroyed as of August 30.
The country has seen the most destructive wildfires in 16 years and has been on high alert for the most devastation since the latest fires that broke out on August 19 left at least 19 people dead.
Spain has been the second most affected country, with around 84,315 hectares of land burned at an estimated cost of 871 million euros (941 million dollars), followed by Italy and Portugal.
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Economic impact estimates include costs for firefighting, reforestation, damage and cleanup, according to the report. Climate change-induced fires have impacted other parts of the world as well, affecting everything from agricultural production to tourism.
“Extreme weather, occurring more and more frequently in our increasingly warming climate, is having a major impact on human health.ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy and water supply,” according to Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
This underscores the growing urgency to cut greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as deeply as possible.
“This underscores the growing urgency to cut greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and deeply as possible.”
“Extreme weather conditions, increasingly frequent in an increasingly warm climate, are having major repercussions on human health, ecosystems, economy, agriculture, energy and water supply,” said Petteri Taalas, secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization.
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“This underscores the growing urgency to cut greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as deeply as possible,” he added.
Record shrinking of Antarctica
For its part, Greece has been forced to evacuate hundreds as firefighters have used planes and helicopters to put out the blazes.
July was officially the hottest month on record on Earth, causing Antarctica to shrink at a record rate.while the European Union’s Earth observation agency has warned of “dire consequences” as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense.
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Bloomberg
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