Sweden is struggling to contain more than 60 wildfires, which continue to ravage the country today, with one official claiming that the “entire country is at risk”.
An unusual heatwave, which has caused the worst drought in the country since World War Two, has baffled metereologists.
More than 20,000 hectares of forest is on fire in the Nordic country, with the wildfires even reaching Lapland in the Arctic Circle.
Sweden has said that the water aircrafts sent so far from Italy, France and Norway are “not enough” and have demanded emergency EU help.
Government officials activated the EU’s civil protection mechanism and sent a request to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).
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In Sweden, several villages have been evacuated and farmers are having to slaughter cattle and sheep to prevent death by starvation.
The risk of further forest fires is “extremely high,” according to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).
Rescue officer Torbjorn Wannqvist said: “This is not looking good, it’s burning uncontrollably and spreading quickly.”
The country’s weather agency has issued its most serious temperature warning in Stockholm and four other populated cities.
Meteorologists have branded the unprecedented length of the heatwave is “unusual” and have been baffled by the extremely hot temperatures gripping the country
Jakob Wernerman, operational director of MSB’s management, said: “We have chosen to request this support from the EU because we see that national preparedness needs to be strengthened right now.
“It is very dry in the fields and forecasts in the future indicate that forest fire risk will be at an extreme level throughout the country, even in the near future.”
Dan Eliasson, who serves in Sweden’s Home Affairs Ministry, said: “I am worried, very worried, about the situation.”
He added the “entire country was at risk” of wildfires amid fears that the infernos will spread out-of-control.
The commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Christos Stylianides, said: “The European Union stands in full solidarity with Sweden.
“Our thoughts are with all the people affected and also with first responders and the firefighters working to tackle the fires.
“I thank Italy for its immediate offer of two planes. This is solidarity in a Europe that protects.”
Sweden’s neighbour Norway has also seen more than 100 wildfires across its southern region in the last week.