A number of wildfires that merged together to create a massive inferno in Greece are the biggest wildfires the European Union (EU) has ever faced, an EU official has said.

ITV news reported that the fire in the Alexandroupolis region in northeastern Greece – burning for a sixth day – combined with smaller fires has created a blaze that has destroyed homes and caused multiple evacuations of villages and of the city’s hospital.

With more than 282 square miles burned, the combined blazes “are now the largest wildfires on record the EU has faced,” European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The EU official also noted government must continue strengthening national and collective prevention and preparedness efforts in view of more brutal fire seasons. He made his comments on Twitter.

This comes as firefighters continue to struggle against strong winds and hot, dry conditions to tame multiple wildfires ravaging Greece.