Fire

The life of a 48-year-old is in danger after the second self-immolation in Bulgaria within slightly over 24 hours, officials say.

Authorities reveal that according to a witness account the man was by the church at Sandanski's cemetery when he doused himself with "a liquid" and set himself on fire, public broadcaster BNR reports.

Greek authorities have partially evacuated a southern village near a major archaeological site due to a large wildfire that is being swept on by strong winds.

The fire brigade says that nine aircraft and helicopters are dropping water over the blaze that broke out Monday near Mavromati, a village of about 300 people some 200 kilometers (124 miles) southwest of Athens.

A relatively mild summer this year resulted in 25 percent fewer wildfires than in 2013, according to new fire service figures seen by Kathimerini.

A total of 3,846 fires broke out on agricultural and forest land between January 1 and July 31 of this year compared to 5,066 in the same period last year, official figures show.

A wildfire that broke out near the city of Arta in northwestern Greece on Sunday was under partial control on Monday morning.

Two water bombing airplanes helped in the effort to put out the blaze, which got to within a few hundred meters of a local hospital and homes.

A huge fire broke out at a chemical factory in Thracian province of Trakya’s Çorlu district early July 6 as firefighters are still working hard to bring the blaze under control.

Forest engineer Yücel Çağlar is very knowledgeable on the issue of our country’s forests. It would not be too much of an exaggeration if we were to say he has dedicated himself to the forests.