Fires, Drought Wrack Europe

Heat and dust as fires and drought wreak havoc in Europe

PARIS (AFP) - "Firefighters battled to contain scorching forest fires raging in many parts of Europe sparked by the exceptional heat, a crippling drought and suspected arsonists. Flames rushing through tinder-dry woods and forests, sometimes with alarming speed and ferocity, threatened historic sites and beauty spots in a wide arc from Portugal to Croatia.

EDIT

Prayers for rain were again held in churches across the northern part of the country (ed. - France) over the week as farmers faced ruin because of the drought which threatens their crops. There was anguish across the Alps in Slovenia, too, with official estimates that the damage caused by the lack of rain there could amount to about 70 million euros (80 million dollars).

EDIT

Some German farmerscould lose up to 80 percent of their crops this year, if the mercury does not tumble soon and rain starts to fall, the head of the German agriculture association said. Farmers are most severely affected in the eastern regions of Saxony and Brandenburg, with more than 225 million euros (260 million dollars) in damage.

EDIT

Along the length of the Danube, Europe's seconed longest river and a major European trade artery, dozens of barges and other vessels were being held up because the water was not deep enough for them to navigate."

EDIT

AFP via Yahoo