The country is experiencing its worst drought in decades, which has set the conditions for the blazes to scorch an area the size of Washington, D.C.
Tag: Fires and Firefighters
Haiti’s Landmark Oloffson Hotel is Destroyed in an Apparent Arson Fire
Haiti’s famed Oloffson Hotel, a cultural landmark and celebrity haven, was incinerated amid rising violence by gangs that control most of the country’s capital.
Wildfires Sweep Syria’s Coast as Drought Strains Fragile State
Firefighting efforts have been hampered by the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance left over from the civil war, as the country grapples with the worst drought in decades.
Man Attempts to Set Fire to a Melbourne Synagogue
None of the approximately 20 people who were inside the synagogue were injured in the attack, the latest in a surge of anti-Jewish acts in Australia.
Gas Station Explosion Rattles Rome, Injuring Several
Dozens of people were injured, including 10 police officers and a firefighter, officials said. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear.
Greece Wildfire Forces Evacuation of 1,500 People From Island of Crete
Most of those fleeing the blaze were tourists. Firefighters struggled against heavy winds to bring the flames under control.
Heathrow Shutdown Caused by Problem Left Unfixed for Years, Report Says
The fire at an electrical substation was caused by a short circuit in a part that hadn’t been properly maintained by National Grid, an official report found.
Explosion at Indian Pharmaceutical Factory Kills 36
It was not immediately clear what led to the blast at a factory near Hyderabad, but officials said initial clues suggested a pressure buildup in a dryer system.
Housekeeper Arrested Over Wildfire That Scorched Greek Island
“She’d been smoking,” a Greek official said of a Georgian woman who was arrested after a blaze tore through 11,000 acres of Chios this week.
Villages Evacuated on Greek Island as Wildfires Rage
More than 400 firefighters were battling five wildfires on Chios in the Aegean Sea, which authorities are investigating as possible arson.