The UK hit its hottest day of the year so far on Thursday, with a heat alert pushing temperatures to 38.1C at London’s Kew Gardens. Firefighters were also dealing with grassfires in England’s West Midlands and wildfires in Greece on the same day.
In Siviri, a fleet of 15 boats evacuated more than 250 tourists from the beach, and some evacuees were still in bathing costumes or carrying children. Sophia, a homeowner in the region near Siviri, told AFP by phone, “We are on the beach and looking for a way to get away.”
West Midlands fire service
In England’s West Midlands, several homes caught alight as firefighters battled a grassfire, and 2 people received treatment. Stourbridge town hall was set up as a rest centre, while West Midlands fire service said transport was being arranged for people who could not make their own way.
The service also warned drivers: “If you must drive, take extra care if you are driving, avoid areas of dense smoke, and please don’t head to areas where fires are taking place to watch.” That warning matches the practical problem at the scene: smoke, blocked access, and people needing help leaving quickly.
Greece in the heat
Of the 40 forest fires reported across Greece in the last 24 hours, 9 were still not controlled by late Thursday. Firefighters said strong winds forecast to reach up to 100 kilometres an hour made tackling the blaze difficult, and the wider picture was not limited to one country.
France’s heatwave reached a 17th day on Thursday, becoming the third-longest period of extreme temperatures ever recorded in the country. Wildfires are not unusual in Greece at this time of year, but the risk is increasing as climate breakdown fuels droughts and prolonged extreme weather, turning a hot day into a cross-border emergency for people trying to leave home or stay safe.
The immediate question for people in Siviri and the West Midlands is simple: whether they can get out safely and whether their homes are still standing after the fires moved through. Those answers will come from the local response, not the temperature reading.
