An unprecedented evacuation
Huge wildfires in France and Spain have forced around 330,000 people from their homes, local officials said. The blazes are burning across southwestern France and northern Spain, driven by drought, high winds and extreme heat. It is one of the largest fire evacuations in western Europe in years.
Firefighters from both countries are working around the clock, supported by water-dropping planes and helicopters. Dozens of homes and businesses have been destroyed, and the flames have reached the outskirts of several towns. No official death toll has been released, but rescue teams are searching burned areas.
Evacuation centers are full in cities like Bordeaux and Bilbao. Local governments opened schools, gyms and stadiums to shelter families. Volunteers are delivering food, water and masks to protect people from the thick smoke.
Heat wave returns
Forecasters warn that another heat wave is building over the region. Temperatures are expected to climb above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Spain and southern France this week. Hot, dry air will make firefighting harder and raise the risk of new blazes.
New evacuation orders were issued in southwestern France as winds picked up. Authorities asked residents to follow instructions and stay off the roads. Schools in affected areas have closed, and trains have been rerouted.
Fire crews are racing to contain the largest fronts before the winds strengthen. France has called in reinforcements from other regions and from neighboring countries. Spain has activated its military emergency unit to support local teams.
Climate change and the future
Scientists say the Mediterranean is a climate change hotspot. Heat waves are arriving earlier, lasting longer and reaching higher temperatures than in the past. Dry winters leave vegetation parched, turning forests into fuel.
European governments are investing in firefighting aircraft and early warning systems, but researchers say prevention matters more. Land management, controlled burns and fire-resistant building rules can reduce the damage.
Until emissions fall, experts say, the region should expect more summers like this one. The fires in France and Spain are the latest reminder that Europe's fire season now starts earlier and ends later than it used to.