More than 330,000 evacuated: The fires in Europe continue to rage
Europe continues to battle massive wildfires. In Spain and France, hundreds of thousands have been evacuated as an abnormal heatwave sweeps across the continent, leading to record temperatures and casualties.
The wave of fires in Europe continues to rage: Spain and France are fighting this morning (Sunday) against giant blazes that have already forced 300,000 people to evacuate their homes. In southwestern France, the entire Cap Ferret peninsula was evacuated, as were suburbs of Bordeaux, with residents documented fleeing using motorized rubber boats. According to French estimates, winds of 50 km/h and temperatures of about 37 degrees have fueled the fire, which is not expected to subside for the time being. In Spain, one person was killed, and in France, several dozen firefighters were injured.
Hundreds of firefighters and military personnel are struggling to contain the fire in France, but without success. In Spain, the situation is also critical, with estimates suggesting two fires have merged into one. Spanish police stated that one suspect was arrested and another is under investigation for causing the fire through the use of heavy mechanical equipment in a prohibited area. At the same time, several less significant fires were recorded in Italy and the UK.
The main focus of the fire wave, which began last week, is the Gironde and Landes regions near Bordeaux. Drivers have been asked to avoid the area unnecessarily. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said:
"The fires that are afflicting our country have reached a level never seen before."
French military forces were mobilized to assist in firefighting efforts. More than 14,000 dunams of forest have been completely burned, and heavy damage was caused to about 100 homes.
In Spain, officials have defined the fires as the most severe ever recorded in the region. It was reported that so far more than 9,000 dunams have been completely burned. This is the second consecutive year that Spain is dealing with an especially destructive fire season. According to Minister of Environment Sara Aagesen, more than 29 large fires have broken out in Spain this year, affecting an area five times larger than the fires of last year.
The abnormal heatwave in Europe began last month, moving from the west to the east of the continent, with 1,000 excess deaths recorded in France within days. Authorities estimate that about 190 million Europeans have suffered from the heatwave. In Berlin, temperatures of 41 degrees were measured, while in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, temperatures hovered around 40 degrees—a figure not seen for decades.
