As firefighters battle a blaze in Megara west of Athens for a third day and arrest arson suspects, South Korea records its highest temperature ever, and tens of thousands flee flames in Washington state.
Extreme weather conditions continue to wreak havoc across the planet on August 3, 2026. Greece is battling a devastating fire for the third day in the Megara region, west of Athens, as authorities order new evacuations. Meanwhile, South Korea records a historic temperature high, and in the U.S. state of Washington, tens of thousands flee forest fires that have already consumed hundreds of homes.
According to Anadolu Agency, firefighting crews are struggling for the third consecutive day to contain the blaze in the Megara region. The situation is so severe that authorities have ordered further evacuations. In addition, two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of starting the fire, further complicating an already tense situation on the ground.
Strong winds, which are carrying the fire through dry forests and underbrush, are hampering firefighting efforts. Nearly 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft are involved in the operation, reports N1 Serbia. Dramatic footage from the scene shows a herd of horses fleeing the flames near Athens, while rescue services go door-to-door evacuating residents, even carrying livestock to safety in their arms.
Following the collision of two helicopters involved in firefighting operations, which claimed the life of one crew, rescue service doctor Georgos Ndulas described the harrowing scene. "The first thing I saw was total devastation. The helicopter was standing upright in the middle of the road, its fuselage torn apart and in flames, and my colleagues from the fire service were trying to put out the fire so we could approach, and so that I, as a doctor, could intervene and help the survivors," Ndulas told N1 Serbia.
A similar drama is unfolding in Washington state, where around 60,000 people have been evacuated due to forest fires. The fire has destroyed at least 600 homes, businesses, and other structures, with a total of about 1,000 square kilometers burned, according to N1 Serbia. The full extent of the damage is not yet known, and fire services are racing against time to contain the blaze.
While parts of the world battle flames, South Korea is experiencing unprecedented heat. In the city of Jangsan, the highest temperature in the country's history was recorded, 42.5 degrees Celsius. This marks the fifth consecutive day temperatures have exceeded 40 degrees, and the Korean Meteorological Administration has issued its highest-level heat warning for parts of Seoul for the first time.
How extreme the heat is can be seen in a video of an ice block that took just 36 minutes to completely melt. "I think we've reached a point where it's almost impossible to go about daily activities in Seoul without an umbrella. This climate crisis has become something citizens feel on their skin," South Korean citizen Ju Bjong told N1 Serbia.
Unbearable heat has also hit North Korea, where temperatures have also exceeded 40 degrees, according to state media. Residents of Pyongyang have been enduring tropical nights for a week, and the heatwave is expected to last until the end of the week.
