Europe weather: Six dead after Balkans hit by powerful storm as heatwave bakes continent
Six people have died in a powerful storm which has battered much of the Balkans – while Southern Europe continues to face a searing heatwave.
Dozens of people have also been injured as a result of strong winds and heavy rain which have hit countries including Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Slovenia.
It is the second storm in two days to sweep over the Balkans, and according to meteorologists is particularly strong because of a recent spell of hot and dry weather in the region.
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In Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, two people, a 50-year-old man and a 48-year-old man, died after they were hit by falling trees.
A firefighter in the eastern Croatian town of Tovarnik also died during the storm, his unit said, revealing no other details.
Another person is said to have died in Croatia, one in Slovenia and one in Bosnia.
Elsewhere in Zagreb, a 36-year-old man was severely injured when a construction crane collapsed, the police said.
Firefighters remove fallen tree branches from a parked car in Zagreb, Croatia
A road is flooded after a storm in Zagreb
Serbia’s police said emergency crews had saved 40 people and put out 20 fires caused by thunder and lightning.
A 12-year-old girl was taken to hospital after a tree fell on her in the northern city of Novi Sad, doctors said.
Authorities have warned that more storms are possible in the next few days before the next wave of very hot weather begins in the region.
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It comes as Southern Europe continues to face a scorching heatwave.
Firefighters from across the European Union are heading to Greece, as the country battles wildfires for another day.
Teams from Poland, Romania and Slovakia are due in Greece later on.
Israel has also pledged to send two firefighting planes, on top of the four Italian and French planes in use near Athens.
Temperatures across Europe on Thursday
Greece’s meteorological service says there’s a higher risk of fires from today, because this week’s intense heat has dried out the land.
Parts of southern Greece are forecast to hit 44C by the end of the week.
In parts of southeast France there were “very high” temperatures overnight, with nine fire departments on amber alert.
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Heatwave: Wildfires ravage Greece
Residents and tourists in the southeast of the country are being urged to stay safe in the sizzling heat.
Temperatures there are forecast to reach the mid-30s by Thursday afternoon.
The World Health Organisation has warned that healthcare systems are being put under increasing pressure because of the extreme heat gripping the Northern Hemisphere.
The global health body called on local and national governments to identify those potentially at risk from extreme heat, saying hospitals should ensure they have an action plans in place for future heatwaves.
The head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the agency was concerned that those least able to cope with extreme heat were being hardest hit.
He also confirmed the WHO is now working with another UN agency, the World Meteorological Organisation, to support countries in developing hot-weather action plans to coordinate preparedness.
At least 36 people have been killed after a fire engulfed several buildings at a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong leader John Lee said another 279 people were reported missing. He said 29 people remained in hospital.
About 900 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters after the blaze – Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in years – broke out at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the city’s Tai Po district.
Three men have since been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, broadcaster RTHK reported.
Pics: AP
Meanwhile, fire chiefs said the high temperatures were making it challenging for crews to mount rescue operations.
Mr Lee said the fire was “coming under control” shortly after midnight.
The blaze was upgraded to a level 5 alarm, the highest level of severity, as night fell.
Pics: AP
The dead included one firefighter, officials said earlier.
A number of other firefighters were said to have been hurt while trying to tackle the flames as they ripped through the 31-storey towers.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: AP
Records show the Wang Fuk Court site consists of eight blocks, with almost 2,000 apartments housing around 4,800 residents, including many elderly people. It was built in the 1980s and has recently been undergoing a major renovation.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
The fire, which broke out at 2.51pm local time, had spread on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting set up around the exterior of the complex.
It was not known how the fire started, but officials said it began on the external scaffolding of one of the buildings before spreading inside and to nearby buildings, likely aided by windy conditions.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Flames and smoke were still pouring out of many windows as night fell.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the firefighter who died, and extended his sympathies to the families of the victims, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He also urged an “all-out” effort to minimise casualties and losses.
The UK’s foreign secretary described the fire as “truly devastating and deeply depressing”. Yvette Cooper said: “The UK sends heartfelt condolences to all the families affected and to the people of Hong Kong.”
Tai Po is in the northern part of Hong Kong, and close to the border with the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen.
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Bamboo scaffolding is a common sight in Hong Kong at building construction and renovation projects.
However, the government said earlier this year it would start phasing it out for public projects because of safety concerns.
The blaze is the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since the deaths of 41 people in a commercial building in Kowloon in November 1996.
That fire was later found to have been caused by welding during internal renovations, with a public inquiry yielding sweeping updates to building standards and fire safety regulations in the city’s high-rise offices, shops and homes.
Two military personnel who were shot near the White House in Washington DC have died.
A suspect has been taken into custody and the area secured, police said.
The White House was placed into lockdown, while US President Donald Trump is away in Florida.
Washington DC shooting latest updates
Pics: AP
Mr Trump initially posted on his Truth Social platform to say the two National Guardsmen had been “critically wounded”, adding that the “animal” that shot them “is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price”.
But West Virginia’s governor said both victims were members of his state’s National Guard and had died from their injuries.
Patrick Morrisey added: “These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country. … Our entire state grieves with their families, their loved ones, and the Guard community. West Virginia will never forget their service or their sacrifice, and we will demand full accountability for this horrific act.”
Pic: AP
Police tape cordoned off the scene, while agents from the US Secret Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene, as National Guard troops stood sentry nearby.
Emergency personnel cordon off an area near where National Guard soldiers were shot. Pics: AP
The Joint DC Task Force confirmed it was responding to an incident in the vicinity of the White House.
The DC Police Department posted on X: “Critical Incident: MPD is on the scene of a shooting at 17th and I Street, NW. Please avoid the area.”
In an update, the force said: “The scene is secured. One suspect is in custody.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation.
“The president has been briefed.”
Mr Trump was at his resort in Palm Beach ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, while US vice president JD Vance was in Kentucky.
Flights arriving at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were temporarily halted due to its proximity to the scene of the shooting, the US Federal Aviation Administration said.
Hundreds of National Guard members have been patrolling the nation’s capital after Mr Trump issued an emergency order in August, which federalised the local police force and sent in the guard from eight states and the District of Columbia.
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