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More than 200 communities were evacuated as more than 150 firemen battled a sizable fire in the Swiss Alps, according to the emergency services on Tuesday.
In the upper Wallis region of southern Switzerland, a forest above the settlement of Bitsch caught fire on Monday. The north side of the narrow Rhone river valley is where the fire is located.
“A significant intervention mechanism was rapidly implemented. It is still battling the quickly escalating fire, according to a statement from Wallis police.
Helicopters from the military and the civilian world joined the local firefighters.
“Roughly 150 firefighters are currently working nonstop to put out the fire, which is currently out of control. The fire is still being put out, according to the police.
Four tiny hamlets were moved away. According to the Wallis police and reported by the state television RTS, 205 persons were evacuated. The majority were able to stay with friends or relatives.
There have been no reports of either human or animal injuries, or building damage.
According to the police, an inquiry has been launched to ascertain the fire’s origin.
The remains of the fire is expected to be fought by firefighters for several days or possibly weeks.
According to Mario Schaller, the local fire chief, about 100 hectares of woodland have been impacted. According to him, the fire has “gradually stabilised.”
He noted that the wind in the valley is always stronger in the afternoon: “As long as the smoke has not vanished, there will be no let-up.”
On Tuesday, Europe prepared for record-breaking heat as the Northern Hemisphere was blasted by unrelenting heatwaves and wildfires.
