As northeastern Romania battles deadly flash floods, vast wildfires continue to burn across Turkey and Albania, highlighting the extreme summer conditions gripping southeastern Europe.

Romania: One Dead, Hundreds Evacuated Amid Torrential Rains

Overnight heavy rainfall caused devastating flash floods across Romania’s Neamț and Suceava counties, killing at least one person and forcing mass evacuations.

According to the Romanian Department for Emergency Situations, emergency crews airlifted residents to safety, with 890 people evacuated from Neamț County alone. A 66-year-old man was found dead in a stream in the town of Neagra, local officials confirmed. Authorities released footage showing flooded roads, damaged homes, and overturned vehicles amid fast-moving muddy waters.

Turkey: Wildfires Claim 17 Lives Amid Drought and Heat

Meanwhile, Turkey is facing one of its worst wildfire seasons in years, with 17 fatalities reported since late June. Over the weekend, fires flared near Bursa, the country’s fourth-largest city. Although firefighters have contained some of the blazes, several remain active, fueled by high winds and scorching temperatures.

Tragedy struck in the village of Ağlasan near Bursa when a firefighting tanker overturned on a remote forest track. Three volunteer firefighters died—one at the scene and two later in hospital. Another firefighter died of a heart attack while battling flames elsewhere on Sunday.

Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı warned on Monday that “we are in a very risky week,” as conditions remain perilous. Fires have impacted multiple regions, including Karabük in the northwest and Kahramanmaraş in the south. Over 3,500 people were evacuated in the Bursa region, with large areas of forestland burned.

The Turkish government has declared disaster zones in İzmir and Bilecik provinces. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated that investigations have been opened against 97 people across 33 provinces in connection with the fires.

Albania: Blazes Rage in Remote Mountain and Coastal Regions

Albania is also struggling to contain wildfires, with six new fires reported on Monday. The Defence Ministry noted that thousands of hectares of forest have already been destroyed over the past two weeks.

In the northeast, rugged and remote plateaus have made firefighting efforts difficult, requiring the deployment of water-dropping aircraft. In southern Albania, strong overnight winds reignited blazes in Delvinë and Konispol, coastal towns still recovering from fires just days earlier.

Climate Extremes Fuel Regional Crisis

The disasters across Romania, Turkey, and Albania reflect a broader trend of intensifying weather extremes in Europe. A combination of heatwaves, prolonged drought, and erratic wind patterns is making summer conditions increasingly dangerous.

Regional authorities continue to monitor the evolving situation, with emergency responders working around the clock. However, officials warn that without sustained rainfall and cooler temperatures, the threats of both fire and flood are far from over.