Wildfire Forces Evacuations in Albanian Coastal Town of Himara

A wildfire fanned by strong winds threatened the coastal tourist town of Himara in Albania on Friday, prompting authorities to urge residents and visitors to evacuate to safer areas. Flames were seen burning on hillsides near the town, with the fire spreading from surrounding mountains toward urban zones.

Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari said all state structures, including the Ministry of Defense, surveillance services, civil protection, and firefighters, were on the ground to control the fire and protect lives. He noted that the fire's perimeter was considerable, around 9 square kilometers, and that vigilance was needed until helicopters could join the effort at daylight.

Vlora Prefect Evis Allushi reported that six houses had been affected by the fire, three of which were inhabited. In addition, 36 homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure, even though they were not directly at risk.

Aerial firefighting planes and helicopters were deployed, with helicopters scooping water from the sea to drop on the flames. Albania has been battling numerous wildfires this summer; the Ministry of Defense reported 39 fires in the past 24 hours, 11 of which remained active.