Storms Threaten Greece and Balkans as Heat Sears Spain
- Lightning strikes risk triggering wildfires following drought
- Heat to build over central Europe as week progresses
A burned area following a wildfire in the village of Varnavas, Greece.
Photographer: Angelos TzortzinisAFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Thunderstorms over Greece and the Balkans risk both flooding and lightning strikes that could trigger more wildfires, while heat continues to sear southern Spain.
There are orange storm alerts for Greece’s Ionian Sea islands, including Corfu, while flooding has been reported in some northern areas, such as Ioannina. Almost a quarter of the 44 wildfires in the country over the 24 hours to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday were caused by lightning at high altitudes, making them hard to extinguish. Large parts of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are also threatened.