In Pictures

Gallery|Climate Crisis

Wildfires around the globe

Hot, dry weather, particularly across Europe, has left many areas of forest and woodland vulnerable to fires.

Wildfire
Wildfire near Kapandriti Kalamos, 50km north of Athens [Orestis Pangiotou/EPA]
Published On 23 Aug 2017

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Much of southern Europe has experienced a hot and very dry summer. These images show one of the effects of this drought – wildfires.

Although these wildfires often have a human cause, being started either deliberately or accidentally, they are part of a natural cycle. The destruction of mature trees allows new growth to take place and for dead wood to be cleared.

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Croatian firefighters have battled scores of wildfires along the Adriatic coast [Vrana Zadar/AFP]
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Locals join in attempts to douse the flames in Trebizat near Capljina, Bosnia [Elvis Barukcic/AFP]
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More than 200 firefighters fought a blaze at Natural Park, Serra de Aire e Candeeiros, in central Portugal [Paulo Cunha/EPA]
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A satellite image of a rare wildfire in eastern Greenland in early August. There had been no rain in June and half the usual amount in July [Nasa]
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Wildfire in Serra Dura, Galicia, Spain. Much of the country has had more than a moth of above average temperatures [Xoan Rey/EPA]
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The aftermath of a wildfire in Carnoux-en-Provence, southeastern France. Wildfire are part of a natural cycle, and despite the loss of trees, regrowth can be rapid [Boris Horvat/AFP]
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Strong winds on 19th fanned flames from this wildfire in Calaundra on the Sunshine Coast [Darren England/EPA]