At least eighteen people have died as massive wildfires rage across South Korea. About 27,000 to be evacuated as firefighters battle strong winds and dry conditions. The southeastern regions have declared an emergency. Watch this report for more details!

Wildfires devastate South Korea, killing 18, forcing 27,000 to flee

At least four people, including three firefighters and a civil servant, have died as massive wildfires rage across South Korea. Over 200 residents from 15 villages were ordered to evacuate as emergency crews, including helicopters, battled the flames. The southeastern regions have declared an emergency. Watch this report for more details!

South Korea: Ravaging wildfires engulf residential building and a temple

At least four people, including three firefighters and a civil servant, have died as massive wildfires rage across South Korea. Over 200 residents from 15 villages were ordered to evacuate as emergency crews, including helicopters, battled the flames. The southeastern regions have declared an emergency, with 16 fire incidents reported in a single day. Watch this report for more details!

Deadly wildfires sweep South Korea, forcing mass evacuations

A water dropping plane of Russia has crashed in Turkey during a firefighting mission. The plane was carrying eight people, who have all been declared dead now.

The Be-200 plane was deployed for a fire fighting mission. It went down in Turkey around 1:30 pm GMT near the southern city of Adana.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-natural-disasters-in-russia-are-unprecedented-405400">Putin says natural disasters in Russia are "unprecedented"</a>

There were five Russian servicemen and three Turkish citizens on board, all of whom died in the crash, the authorities reported.

The Russian firefighters were helping fight wildfires in Turkey. The plane was sent to turkey after Russia had in July committed to sending be-200 planes under the firefighting mission.

While local authorities rushed to the scene of the accident, they were unable to save everyone aboard the water-bomber plane.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-areas-in-japan-issue-evacuation-alert-after-floods-and-landslides-405378" hreflang="en">Several areas in Japan issue evacuation alert after floods and landslides</a>

The wildfires this year have shocked the authorities as even one of the coldest regions, the city of Yakutsk, has recorded temperatures surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised an alert on the "unprecedented"&nbsp;incidents.&nbsp;"In the south (of Russia), the monthly norm of rainfall now falls in a few hours and in the Far East on the contrary, forest fires in drought conditions are spreading rapidly," Putin said.

A water dropping plane of Russia has crashed in Turkey during a firefighting mission. The plane was carrying eight people, who have all been declared dead now. The Be-200 plane was deployed for a fire fighting mission.

A water dropping plane of Russia has crashed in Turkey during a firefighting mission. The plane was carrying eight people, who have all been declared dead now. The Be-200 plane was deployed for a fire fighting mission. It went down in Turkey around 1:30 pm GMT near the southern city of Adana. Also read | Putin says natural disasters in Russia are "unprecedented" There were five Russian servicemen and three Turkish citizens on board, all of whom died in the crash, the authorities reported. The Russian firefighters were helping fight wildfires in Turkey. The plane was sent to turkey after Russia had in July committed to sending be-200 planes under the firefighting mission. While local authorities rushed to the scene of the accident, they were unable to save everyone aboard the water-bomber plane. Also read | Several areas in Japan issue evacuation alert after floods and landslides The wildfires this year have shocked the authorities as even one of the coldest regions, the city of Yakutsk, has recorded temperatures surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised an alert on the "unprecedented" incidents. "In the south (of Russia), the monthly norm of rainfall now falls in a few hours and in the Far East on the contrary, forest fires in drought conditions are spreading rapidly," Putin said.

Russia's water bomber plane crashes in Turkey; 8 declared dead

Firefighters, troops and civilian volunteers battled blazes in forests across northern Algeria Wednesday as the country reeled at a death toll of at least 65 people in the latest Mediterranean wildfires.

Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning starting from Thursday, and authorities say they suspect widespread arson after so many fires erupted in such a short space of time.

Twenty-eight of those killed were soldiers deployed to help overstretched emergency services tackle the rash of more than 50 fires that broke out on Tuesday, state television reported.

Several arrests have been announced, but the identity or suspected motives of those detained have not been disclosed.

Images of trapped villagers, terrified livestock and forested hillsides reduced to blackened stumps were shared on social media, many of them accompanied by pleas for help.

AFP journalists saw villagers desperately trying to put out the spreading fires with makeshift brooms in an effort to save their homes.

High winds fuelled the rapid spread of the fires in the tinder-dry conditions created by a heatwave across North Africa and the wider Mediterranean, fire official Youcef Ould Mohamed told the state-run APS news agency.

Scores of separate wildfires remained active Wednesday, spread across 17 provinces, emergency services spokesman Nassim Barnaoui told reporters.

Most of the fires and 16 of the deaths were recorded in Tizi Ouzou district, in the mainly Berber region of Kabylie, east of the capital Algiers.

"I left all my stock in my village and fled to Tizi Ouzou with my wife and three children," said Abdelhamid Boudraren, a shopkeeper from the village of Beni Yeni.

"Luckily I own a flat in the centre of Tizi Ouzou, where I'm holed up with my family and some neighbours."

The situation was also "alarming" in Bejaia, Tarch Hakim, the head of civil protection in the city, the second biggest in Kabylie, told APS.

"Things were under control, but with the outbreak of nine large fires on Wednesday morning, our forces are scattered," Hakim said.

Fires in Tunisia

There have been mounting calls for aid convoys to be sent to the worst-hit districts with food and medicine from the capital.

On Wednesday, an AFP correspondent saw several lorries headed to Tizi Ouzou with aid donated by the public.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the former colonial power "stands ready" to offer support in tackling the situation, and expressed the "solidarity of France with the Algerian people", in a post on Twitter.

The British embassy in Algiers offered their "condolences to those who have died, or been injured or affected".

State media have reported four arrests for suspected arson.

Meteorologists expect the heat wave across North Africa to continue until the end of the week, with temperatures in Algeria reaching 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit).

In Algeria's neighbour Tunisia, the temperature in the capital Tunis hit an all-time record of 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.

The Tunisian emergency services reported 15 fires across the north and northwest, but no casualties.

On the northern shores of the Mediterranean, Turkey reported eight deaths and Greece three from wildfires that have raged for the past two weeks.

Each summer, Algeria endures seasonal wildfires, but rarely anything approaching this year's toll.

In 2020, nearly 440 square kilometres (170 square miles) of forest were destroyed by fire, and several people were arrested on suspicion of arson.

On Monday, the UN released a major report showing how the threat from global warming is even more acute than previously thought.

It highlighted how scientists are quantifying the extent to which human-induced warming increases the intensity and/or likelihood of a specific extreme weather event, such as a heatwave or a wildfire.

Climate change amplifies droughts, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to spread out of control and inflict unprecedented material and environmental damage.

Firefighters, troops and civilian volunteers battled blazes in forests across northern Algeria Wednesday as the country reeled at a death toll of at least 65 people in the latest Mediterranean wildfires.

Firefighters, troops and civilian volunteers battled blazes in forests across northern Algeria Wednesday as the country reeled at a death toll of at least 65 people in the latest Mediterranean wildfires. Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning starting from Thursday, and authorities say they suspect widespread arson after so many fires erupted in such a short space of time. Twenty-eight of those killed were soldiers deployed to help overstretched emergency services tackle the rash of more than 50 fires that broke out on Tuesday, state television reported. Several arrests have been announced, but the identity or suspected motives of those detained have not been disclosed. Images of trapped villagers, terrified livestock and forested hillsides reduced to blackened stumps were shared on social media, many of them accompanied by pleas for help. AFP journalists saw villagers desperately trying to put out the spreading fires with makeshift brooms in an effort to save their homes. High winds fuelled the rapid spread of the fires in the tinder-dry conditions created by a heatwave across North Africa and the wider Mediterranean, fire official Youcef Ould Mohamed told the state-run APS news agency. Scores of separate wildfires remained active Wednesday, spread across 17 provinces, emergency services spokesman Nassim Barnaoui told reporters. Most of the fires and 16 of the deaths were recorded in Tizi Ouzou district, in the mainly Berber region of Kabylie, east of the capital Algiers. "I left all my stock in my village and fled to Tizi Ouzou with my wife and three children," said Abdelhamid Boudraren, a shopkeeper from the village of Beni Yeni. "Luckily I own a flat in the centre of Tizi Ouzou, where I'm holed up with my family and some neighbours." The situation was also "alarming" in Bejaia, Tarch Hakim, the head of civil protection in the city, the second biggest in Kabylie, told APS. "Things were under control, but with the outbreak of nine large fires on Wednesday morning, our forces are scattered," Hakim said. Fires in Tunisia There have been mounting calls for aid convoys to be sent to the worst-hit districts with food and medicine from the capital. On Wednesday, an AFP correspondent saw several lorries headed to Tizi Ouzou with aid donated by the public. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the former colonial power "stands ready" to offer support in tackling the situation, and expressed the "solidarity of France with the Algerian people", in a post on Twitter. The British embassy in Algiers offered their "condolences to those who have died, or been injured or affected". State media have reported four arrests for suspected arson. Meteorologists expect the heat wave across North Africa to continue until the end of the week, with temperatures in Algeria reaching 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit). In Algeria's neighbour Tunisia, the temperature in the capital Tunis hit an all-time record of 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. The Tunisian emergency services reported 15 fires across the north and northwest, but no casualties. On the northern shores of the Mediterranean, Turkey reported eight deaths and Greece three from wildfires that have raged for the past two weeks. Each summer, Algeria endures seasonal wildfires, but rarely anything approaching this year's toll. In 2020, nearly 440 square kilometres (170 square miles) of forest were destroyed by fire, and several people were arrested on suspicion of arson. On Monday, the UN released a major report showing how the threat from global warming is even more acute than previously thought. It highlighted how scientists are quantifying the extent to which human-induced warming increases the intensity and/or likelihood of a specific extreme weather event, such as a heatwave or a wildfire. Climate change amplifies droughts, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to spread out of control and inflict unprecedented material and environmental damage.

Algeria mourns 65 dead as Mediterranean wildfires spread

Turkey has been burning for the past couple of weeks and things seem to be getting worse as a new fire broke out in a thermal plant on Wednesday.

A fire appeared at the foot of a hill in front of the Yenikoy Kemerkoy thermal power plant, near the Aegean Sea town of Milas.

Also&nbsp;watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-turkey-sees-mysterious-meteor-explosion-that-made-the-sky-bright-green-402417">Turkey sees 'mysterious' meteor explosion that made the sky bright green</a>

As huge flames rose out of the plant, its chimney area was majorly covered in thick smoke. The plant on fire operates on coal and fuel oil, as per officials.

This fire has started out after the local firefighters have used all measures, including helicopters, to bring more than 150 fires under control in 32 provinces. However, new fires have been erupting. In the last few days, new fires have been reported in Isparta, Denizli, Balıkesir and Manisa.

Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/climate-threat-wildfires-rage-in-turkey-heatwave-hits-greece-402459#wildfires-rage-in-drought-hit%C2%A0turkey-402444">Climate threat: Wildfires rage in Turkey, heatwave hits Greece</a>

As per the Directorate of Forestry, nearly 174 fired broke out in the past eight days in 39 days and nearly 160 of them have been brought under control.

Firefighters have been using helicopters, planes and locals have been using buckets of water to battle the raging wildfires in the country, which started almost two weeks ago.

Turkey has been burning for the past couple of weeks and things seem to be getting worse as a new fire broke out in a thermal plant on Wednesday. A fire appeared at the foot of a hill in front of the Yenikoy Kemerkoy thermal power plant, near the Aegean Sea town of Milas.

Turkey has been burning for the past couple of weeks and things seem to be getting worse as a new fire broke out in a thermal plant on Wednesday. A fire appeared at the foot of a hill in front of the Yenikoy Kemerkoy thermal power plant, near the Aegean Sea town of Milas. Also watch | Turkey sees 'mysterious' meteor explosion that made the sky bright green As huge flames rose out of the plant, its chimney area was majorly covered in thick smoke. The plant on fire operates on coal and fuel oil, as per officials. This fire has started out after the local firefighters have used all measures, including helicopters, to bring more than 150 fires under control in 32 provinces. However, new fires have been erupting. In the last few days, new fires have been reported in Isparta, Denizli, Balıkesir and Manisa. Have a look | Climate threat: Wildfires rage in Turkey, heatwave hits Greece As per the Directorate of Forestry, nearly 174 fired broke out in the past eight days in 39 days and nearly 160 of them have been brought under control. Firefighters have been using helicopters, planes and locals have been using buckets of water to battle the raging wildfires in the country, which started almost two weeks ago.

Turkey: New fire breaks out in thermal power plant

Firefighters scrambled to protect thousands of homes from a wildfire racing through brush-covered mountains north of Los Angeles on Friday that caused hundreds of evacuations and burned 21 structures.

The blaze, dubbed the Lake Fire, swelled to over 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares), forcing up to 1,500 people from their houses after erupting on Wednesday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest.

Triple digit temperatures and single digit humidity fanned flames on Friday evening, and little let-up was expected over the weekend with an excessive heat warning in effect across Southern California.

"We saw extreme fire conditions," Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Frank Garrido said of the operation in steep canyons aided by firefighting helicopters.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation but human activity is likely to blame, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Mitchell.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://w3.cdn.anvato.net/player/prod/v3/anvload.html?key=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%2FaXU9LzExNDQwNDY1L1dpb25ld3NfVmlkZW8vV2lvbmV3c19QcmVyb2xsJmRlc2NyaXB0aW9uX3VybD1bcGxhY2Vob2xkZXJdJmVudj12cCZpbXBsPXMmY29ycmVsYXRvcj0mdGZjZD0wJm5wYT0wJmdkZnBfcmVxPTEmb3V0cHV0PXZhc3Qmc3o9NjQweDQ4MCZ1bnZpZXdlZF9wb3NpdGlvbl9zdGFydD0xIn19LCJoZWFsdGhBbmFseXRpY3MiOnt9fSwiaHRtbDUiOnRydWV9" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

No casualties were reported but the blaze threatened 5,420 homes and other structures in communities about 40 miles (65 km) north of downtown Los Angeles where residents have been told to prepare for possible evacuations over the weekend, Garrido said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mercury-soars-in-california-as-apple-fire-sets-the-state-ablaze-317851">In pictures:&nbsp;Mercury soars in California as 'Apple Fire' sets the state ablaze</a>

Much of the area has not had a fire in 60-100 years, allowing flames to move swiftly through fuel-choked areas. 
Across the United States, fires have been less ferocious so far in 2020, burning around 1.4 million fewer acres than in the same period of 2019. Conditions are expected to worsen in California next month when Santa Ana winds arrive in the south and El Diablo winds pick up in the North.

In drought-stricken Colorado, the Pine Gulch Fire, burning near Grand Junction, about 190 miles west of Denver, has blackened over 73,000 acres in remote mountain terrain, making it the fourth-largest in the state`s history.

Firefighters scrambled to protect thousands of homes from a wildfire racing through brush-covered mountains north of Los Angeles on Friday that caused hundreds of evacuations and burned 21 structures.

Firefighters scrambled to protect thousands of homes from a wildfire racing through brush-covered mountains north of Los Angeles on Friday that caused hundreds of evacuations and burned 21 structures. The blaze, dubbed the Lake Fire, swelled to over 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares), forcing up to 1,500 people from their houses after erupting on Wednesday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest. Triple digit temperatures and single digit humidity fanned flames on Friday evening, and little let-up was expected over the weekend with an excessive heat warning in effect across Southern California. "We saw extreme fire conditions," Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Frank Garrido said of the operation in steep canyons aided by firefighting helicopters. The cause of the blaze was under investigation but human activity is likely to blame, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Mitchell. × No casualties were reported but the blaze threatened 5,420 homes and other structures in communities about 40 miles (65 km) north of downtown Los Angeles where residents have been told to prepare for possible evacuations over the weekend, Garrido said. In pictures: Mercury soars in California as 'Apple Fire' sets the state ablaze Much of the area has not had a fire in 60-100 years, allowing flames to move swiftly through fuel-choked areas. Across the United States, fires have been less ferocious so far in 2020, burning around 1.4 million fewer acres than in the same period of 2019. Conditions are expected to worsen in California next month when Santa Ana winds arrive in the south and El Diablo winds pick up in the North. In drought-stricken Colorado, the Pine Gulch Fire, burning near Grand Junction, about 190 miles west of Denver, has blackened over 73,000 acres in remote mountain terrain, making it the fourth-largest in the state`s history.

'Extreme' California wildfire forces hundreds to evacuate

wild-fire

Wild Fire, News on Wild Fire, stories on Wild Fire, articles on Wild Fire, Wild Fire stories at Wion, Wild Fire news, Wild Fire latest news

wild fire