There have been more than 12 000 fires in Bulgaria in June and July alone.

Most of the fires were in forests, and millions of sq m of forests had been destroyed, Focus news agency reported.

The Interior Ministry had taken emergency measures in response. It also took steps to improve co-operation among all ministries and local authorities to deal with the fires.

The situation in Greece is similar, as on July 29 2007 alone five huge blazes burst out, French newspaper Telegram reported.

The paper said that there had been no response by the international community to appeals from Bulgaria and Romania for help.

For the fifth consecutive day, fires in the central and southern regions of Bulgaria were continuing to devastate its territory, the report said.