Soldiers and firefighters on Tuesday were battling flames raging near southern Albanian villages near the Greek border, the defence ministry said as a heatwave sweeps the Balkans.Fire crews, backed by a helicopter, brought several wildfires under control on Monday, but high temperatures and winds have spurred the flames' spread near the villages of Dropull and Finiq, the ministry said.
"A Cougar helicopter and about 30 members of our armed forces resumed operations this morning to put out the fire raging in villages near Dropull," said Albania's Defence Minister Niko Peleshi.
Footage of the efforts posted by Peleshi on Facebook showed hilltops engulfed in flames, and rescuers working through thick smoke.
A heatwave expected to last until the end of the week has swept across the Balkans, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenehit) in Albania.
