Wildfires across Europe leave deaths and destruction

Two people were killed in fires that broke out on a Greek island and a soldier died fighting a fire in Spain as Belgium tackled a record blaze on its border with Germany on Sunday.Europe is facing wildfires spurred by high temperatures and tinder-dry conditions due to a historically hot summer that has already claimed the live of thousands of people. A wildfire burns on the island of Salamina, west of Athens, Greece, August 16, 2026. /VCG A wildfire burns on the island of Salamina, west of Athens, Greece, August 16, 2026. /VCG Two bodies were found Sunday during firefighting operations on Salamina, according to Greek broadcaster ERT. The victims, which initial information indicated are a married couple, were discovered near where a fire started in the forested Peristeria area.The fire spread rapidly amid strong winds, burning through pine trees and damaging homes. Another fire was reported in Kaki Vigla, where an elderly man was rescued and nine people suffering burns were taken to the Salamina Health Center.At least 90 people were evacuated by sea. A total of 146 firefighters, supported by volunteers, four water-dropping aircraft and six helicopters were deployed. The latest deaths brought Greece's wildfire death toll in this summer to eight. A helicopter during operations to extinguish a forest fire in Las Penas de Riglos, Huesca, Aragon, Spain, August 16, 2026. /VCG A helicopter during operations to extinguish a forest fire in Las Penas de Riglos, Huesca, Aragon, Spain, August 16, 2026. /VCG In Spain, a soldier died Sunday while helping fight a major wildfire in Aragon, as the local authorities deployed the largest firefighting arsenal in the region's history.The flames spread across 16,600 hectares and forced more than 1,000 people to evacuate.Around 1,000 firefighters, supported by up to 40 aircraft, were involved in the operation. France was also sending 100 firefighters to help contain the flames.In Andalusia, more than 400 evacuees were allowed to return home after a wildfire raging for 10 days and affecting more than 25,000 hectares was declared under control on Sunday.Portugal was also battling several fires near its border with Spain. Five firefighters suffered minor injuries when their vehicle caught fire near the village of Dine. Firefighters were reported to be battling several other fires near the Spanish border, including at Boticas and Chavez. A Swedish firefighting plane flies over the fire zone in the High Fens as dark plumes of smoke block the view of the sun, Sourbrodt, Belgium, August 16, 2026. /VCG A Swedish firefighting plane flies over the fire zone in the High Fens as dark plumes of smoke block the view of the sun, Sourbrodt, Belgium, August 16, 2026. /VCG Water-dropping aircraft and farmers' tractors helped firefighters battling Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire at an inaccessible area near Germany, where a border town ordered a partial evacuation because of the growing threat.Military helicopters backed by tractors on the ground hauled water to help firefighters tame the wildfire, burning in a hard-to-access nature reserve.The blaze, whose origins are still unknown, has grown from 80 hectares burnt on Friday to nearly 3,000 hectares on Sunday.In Croatia, police said they had arrested four people suspected of starting some of the wildfires that have swept parts of the Adriatic coast in recent days.Meanwhile, a fire in France's Landes department that burned 1,700 hectares was stabilized after three days of ground and air operations. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity helped authorities gain control. The local prefect said a first group of the 650 people who had evacuated due to the fire would be allowed to return to their homes on Sunday evening.(With input from agencies)