Skip to content

In pictures: Fighting the Swedish wildfires

AFP Aerial image shows the Forest fires burning near Ljusdal, Sweden on July 18, 2018.AFP
The fires have affected thousands of hectares in Sweden

Fires continue to rage in Sweden as the country tries to deal with the combined effects of a drought and record-breaking temperatures.

There were still 53 individual fires burning on Sunday afternoon from the extreme north down to Malmo in the south, emergency officials said.

Italy, Germany, Poland and France have all sent help.

But with temperatures set to soar again, they are in a race against time to get the fires under control.

EPA A chartered helicopter dumps a load of water onto a smouldering spot in a forest near the village Grotingen in the Bracke municipality to fight one of many wild fires in central Sweden, 22 July 2018EPA
Putting the fires out has become an international effort
Reuters A convoy of Polish Fire Brigade passes lake Vattern on their way to Uppsala, after a rest and refuelling in Uppsala the Polish firefighters will continue during Sunday to central Sweden where they will help to put out the major wild firesReuters
The Polish fire brigade sent this convoy to help Sweden fight the blazes
AFP A fire vehicle is seen as fire burns in Karbole, Sweden, on July 15, 2018.AFP
Pictures taken earlier in the week in Karbole, central Sweden, show what they will be facing
AFP Fire burns in Karbole, Sweden, on July 15, 2018AFP
According to the TT news agency, the fires have destroyed forests valued at 600m Swedish krona ($67m; £51m)
EPA 2 An Italian Bombardier CL-415 SuperScooper taking in water to drop on a large wildfire near Ljusdal, Sweden on 18 July 2018.EPA
One of two Italian Bombardier CL-415 SuperScoopers sent to Sweden collects water
EPA An Italian Bombardier CL-415 SuperScooper in action battling a large wildfire near Ljusdal, Sweden on 18 July 2018EPA
This plane is battling a fire near Ljusdal, in central Sweden
AFP A French Bombardier 415 firefighting aircraft lands on the tarmac in Sveg, central Sweden on July 21, 2018 to help battle a 200 sq.km large wildfire that has been raging for more than a weekAFP
France has also sent help, including this Bombardier 415 firefighting aircraft