Wildfires: Tens of thousands evacuated while countless volunteers fight the flames | DW News

The wildfires raging across southern Europe may be a sign of things to come. Turkey is battling its most destructive blazes in living memory. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal regions and huge swathes of forest destroyed. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come under fierce criticism over the disaster.

DW's Julia Hahn reports from Milas on the Aegean coast, where countless volunteers have joined the fight to contain the fires.

Scientists also blame climate change for the wildfires devastating parts of neighboring Greece. A massive fire on Greece's second largest island Evia is continuing to rage. It's destroyed homes and businesses as well as vast tracts of forest. Thousands have been evacuated. Ferries and warships are moving people to safety, as strong winds spread the flames.

DW correspondent Barbara Wesel is near the capital Athens. She spoke to the head of the Academy of Athens about the way forward.

It's an urgent warning from the United Nations on global warning. The stark verdict is that major climate change is inevitable and the rise in sea levels is irreversible. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control (IPCC) says the rise in global temperatures could well top the danger limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. That's sooner than previously thought. But the panel says it's not too late to cut greenhouse gases.

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