Swedish Head of Civil Protection MSB, Dan Elibadon, voiced on Friday, at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, the magnitude of the drama around forest fires. Elibadon described the situation as "probably the most serious and difficult situation in which the Swedish ambulance service has ever been."
Still on fire in at least 50 places in the country, many fires remain out of control. "We will not be able to extinguish the biggest fires because the rescue service is working to minimize the spread and wait for the weather to change," said Elibadon. "It may take several weeks, though." The 10-day forecast of the SMHI Meteorological Service badumes that it will remain hot and dry in many parts of the country with temperatures of 26 to 32 degrees.
It should rain a lot – after that it does not seem to be at present [19659004] According to the Swedish newspaper "Dagens Nyheter", SMHI hydrologists estimate that a relatively Significant rain is needed to eliminate the greatest drought. At the present time, there is no indication that such quantities would fall. No precipitation is expected outside of local heat storms.
Several roads are closed due to fires. Photo: Maja Suslin / TT / Reuters News Agency
Chief MSB Elibadon said: "I warn the situation This may continue to escalate and the situation is serious." On fires as large and complex, you were not personally and technically ready. Already on Thursday, the civil defense had reported that already significantly more hectares of forest were affected than in the biggest fire of recent Swedish history in 2014. At that time, in the province of Västmanland, about 14 000 hectares were burned. The current fires are already raging – Friday morning – on an area of more than 20,000 hectares. This is roughly the size of about 30,000 football fields.
Prime Minister Löfven also spoke of a "still very serious situation". "We have an extreme situation," he said. If the forest fires were over, it would strengthen the civil defense of Sweden. Sweden should better prepare for extreme weather conditions. The worst fires continue raging a few hundred kilometers north of Stockholm, in central Sweden, in the provinces of Dalarna, Jämtland and Gävleborg. Here should be evacuated Friday more villages. Already Thursday, many people had to leave their homes.
Campfires and barbecues in the wild are currently prohibited
Rescue teams attempt to control fires with firefighting planes from Italy and France as well as Norwegian helicopters. Meanwhile, Sweden has asked for help to the SVT TV channel in Germany, Denmark and Lithuania
The Foreign Office (AA) of Berlin pointed out that holidaymakers in Sweden are currently not not on fire. Allowed to grill nature. This is permitted under Swedish law with some restrictions as well as "wild camping" in principle. Tourists should check their travel plans. The roads could be closed, says AA
There is fire all over the country Graphic: Gitta Pieper-Meyer
