Sweden battles continues asks EU water bombers to combat wildfires

Nearly 100 people were forced to leave their homes overnight in Sweden, emergency officials said Thursday, as dozens of forest fires rage across the country as far north as the Arctic Circle.

Swedish firefighters were still battling 49 different wildfires across the country on Thursday afternoon, and in some areas residents have been asked to leave for their safety. Here’s where evacuations have taken place.

Nordmaling (Västerbotten)

Idag fick vi backa. Vinden ställer till det här ute. Nu är vi omgrupperade och inväntar på att skydda bebyggelsen som elden bestämt sig för att gå mot. #msb #nationellaskyddsstyrkorna #swedisharmedforces #hemvärnet #homeguard #skogsbrand

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Swedish authorities called for anyone in the direct proximity of Högbränna and Tallberg in Nordmaling municipality, Västerbotten, to evacuate the area just before 2.30pm on Wednesday. “There is a fire in the forest that is spreading quickly with heavy smoke,” the National Website for Emergency Information explained.

On Thursday, the evacuation order was still in place, while those not in the immediate vicinity but still affected by smoke were urged to keep doors and windows closed.

Two Italian planes are on Wednesday due to begin their aerial firefighting efforts after arriving in the Nordic nation, but Sweden’s Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has requested more planes as well as helicopters to help extinguish the number of fires still not under control.

TOPSHOT – Firefighters use a heicopter to tackle a forest fire burning near Ljusdal, Sweden on July 18, 2018. (Photo by Maja SUSLIN / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read MAJA SUSLIN/AFP/Getty Images)

“The focus right now is on firefighting flights and we will see how we can use them in the best and most effective way during the day. We are following up with a request for more helicopters and water-bombing planes, and will see if there is the possibility of other countries providing support,” Britta Ramberg from MSB told news agency TT.

for updates: forest fires in Sweden can be found on the National Website for Emergency Information.

Sweden news agency