Wildfires tore through southern Europe on Wednesday, with Greece hit hardest as thousands of firefighters battled flames driven by fierce winds and relentless heat.
At least four people have died, and dozens more — including emergency crews — have been injured or forced from their homes as blazes burned across Greece, Spain, Turkey, Montenegro, and Albania.
In Greece alone, nearly 5,000 firefighters, 62 aircraft, and multiple Coast Guard vessels have been deployed. Officials warned the country faced a “very difficult” day ahead.
In central Albania, four villages were evacuated near a former army ammunition depot. Farther south in the Korca district, close to the Greek border, explosions erupted from buried World War II-era shells. Authorities say dozens of homes in the country’s central region have been reduced to rubble.
Here’s a glimpse at the destruction left in the wildfires’ wake:
Wildfire burns behind a cemetery in Tsoukalaiika of Achaia, Peloponnese, Greece on Wednesday.MENELAOS MICHALATOS/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters use construction machinery during efforts to extinguish a wildfire near the city of Patras, western Greece on Wednesday.ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images
Burned cars are seen at an impound lot in Kato Achaia, during a wildfire near Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday.Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press
Firefighters and others try to control a wildfire approaching a house in Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday.Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press
A firefighter helicopter seen flying over a wildfire in Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday.Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press
A man took away goats during a wildfire in Vounteni, on the outskirts of Patras, western Greece, Wednesday.Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press
A firefighting helicopter sprayed water over a wildfire near the city of Patras, western Greece on Wednesday.ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images
A burned hill is seen from above in Kaminia seaside village, during a wildfire near Patras city, western Greece, Wednesday.Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press
Burning trees are pictured during a wildfire in Carcastillo, northern Spain, Sunday.Eduardo Sanz/Associated Press
Smoke from a wildfire covers the sky as firefighting aircrafts fly over the village of Kato Achaia near Patras city, western Greece, Tuesday.Andreas Alexopoulos/Associated Press
A firefighter airplane drops water on a wildfire near the village of Abejera in Zamora province on Wednesday.CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty Images
Firefighters battle a wildfire near the village of Abejera in Zamora province on Wednesday.CESAR MANSO/AFP via Getty ImagesWilliam Reed can be reached at william.reed@globe.com.