TIRANA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires has continued to wreak havoc on Albania while hundreds of military personnel, firefighters, nature protection experts and local residents have still battled to keep them under control, but winds hamper their efforts.
The damage caused so far by fires is considered enormous. Many hectares of land, pasture and forest have been totally destroyed while many houses in some villages in southern Albania were burned.
The situation has forced Albanian authorities to seek help from neighboring countries as well as NATO and the European Union (EU), saying they needed more helicopters to help firefighting teams battle fires.
Two airplanes were sent by both Greece and Italy, and the European Commission said Thursday it would sent two additional airplanes.
A few days ago, the Albanian civil emergencies department said that the fires were also threatening residential areas in Tirana, Elbasan, Vlora, Berat and Dibra.
Fires also threatened some national parks in Fier,central Albania, but working teams managed to put situation under control.
Fires are also taking a toll on country's energy situation as Albania is currently importing 80 percent of its energy.
Energy consumption has reached a peak, and the water level at Albania's main hydro power plants has reached minimum levels.
The energy import has increased costs for energy operators in the country, mainly the Albanian Power Corporation which is expected to ask for financial support from the government.
Albanian authorities have also issued several warnings about high temperatures, which have been present for many weeks and expected to continue until late August, meteorologists said.
