France, Spain on edge as wildfires force 320,000 evacuations
Europe battles raging wildfires Firefighters across France and Spain are battling to contain massive wildfires as soaring temperatures and dry conditions fuel the blazes, with
Europe battles raging wildfires Firefighters across France and Spain are battling to contain massive wildfires as soaring temperatures and dry conditions fuel the blazes, with authorities warning that another heatwave expected later this week could hamper firefighting efforts and increase the risk of further spread.European Union officials have warned that wildfires could continue burning until early November, with the prolonged fire season threatening to make this one of the worst years on record for the total area of land destroyed by wildfires.Authorities have evacuated around 220,000 people, including residents and holidaymakers, across France as wildfires continue to spread. In neighbouring Spain, nearly 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate or remain sheltered as firefighters battle multiple fast-moving blazes, as cited by Reuters.Spain's interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described Monday and Tuesday as "absolutely crucial days" in the fight against the wildfires, warning that temperatures are expected to climb again from Wednesday.Meanwhile, a blaze in the hilly province of Ávila, west of Madrid, has become the largest wildfire on record in Spain after scorching 50,000 hectares (125,000 acres).Authorities are also battling two separate fires north-west of the capital, with the total area burned around Madrid reaching about 70,000 hectares.France is also in a race against time to contain the wildfires before another intense heatwave sets in later this week, according to fire service spokesperson Eric Brocardi, as cited by The Guardian.Weather forecasters have warned that temperatures could climb to as high as 40°C (104°F) in parts of the country from Tuesday, raising fears that the extreme heat will further fuel the blazes and complicate firefighting efforts.“The coming weeks will be tough and we have to hold out," said French president Emmanuel Macron while on a visit to Bordeaux.The looming heatwave is expected to further hinder efforts to contain the wildfire in Gironde, in south-western France.Interior minister Laurent Nuñez described the blaze as "extremely intense and unpredictable", warning that it is generating its own winds and advancing erratically towards the Bordeaux metropolitan area.A European Commission official said this year's wildfire season began in April and is expected to continue until early November, with authorities warning of heightened wildfire risks in France, Spain and Greece as temperatures rise again from the middle of the week.After France and Spain activated the European Union's emergency assistance mechanism, the European Commission coordinated the deployment of seven firefighting aircraft and four helicopters to France, along with six aircraft and three forest firefighting teams to Spain.EU officials have also been dispatched to the Bordeaux region to support local authorities in managing the crisis.
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