This week, record temperatures and dry conditions have caused evacuations across France, Spain, and Portugal, causing deadly wildfires and extreme heat in southern Europe.
One person was killed and nine others were hurt in a massive wildfire in southern France’s Aude region, making it the biggest wildfire this year.
In less than 24 hours, the fire, which started on Tuesday, has already scorched at least 15, 000 hectares (37, 000 acres), or more than the city of Paris. Forest fires have ravaged villages, damaged or destroyed at least 25 homes, and the fire is still ignoble, according to emergency officials.
In a post on X, President Emmanuel Macron urged people to use “the utmost caution” and stated that “all of the nation’s resources are being mobilized.
In addition to 600 vehicles and water-dropping aircraft, over 1,800 firefighters have been dispatched to battle the blaze.
Remi Recio, deputy prefect of Narbonne, stated that the Aude department has the most personnel and resources that can be had in the entire south of France.
Another person is missing, while an elderly woman who refused to leave was killed. Seven firefighters were inflicted with smoke inhalation, including one who was in critical condition with burns and two civilians were hurt.
Roads were blocked, and camping areas and at least one village had to be partially evacuated. David Cerdan, a 51-year-old man who eluded the French village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, said, “I left everything behind me.” I’m putting that perspective into perspective. There is no harm to me whatsoever.
According to officials, the fire has already squandered more than double the amount of land burned by all French wildfires combined in 2024. According to fire official Roesch, “The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are favorable for it to continue.” This fire will keep us busy for a while. It’s a long-term operation.
The cause investigation is currently being conducted. According to France’s environment ministry, dry vegetation and drought conditions are to blame for the spread, with water restrictions already in place in the Aude region.
According to climate and agriculture expert Serge Zaka, “the Mediterranean has the highest fire risk.” It is the hottest and dryest region of France. These fire risks are anticipated to increase even more in the summer due to climate change.
About 300 people were injured in a fire that occurred last month near Marseille. According to scientists, Europe, the continent with the fastest-warming climate, is experiencing more intense heat and dryness as a result of climate change.
Spain and Portugal are inundated with blazes caused by heat.
A severe heat wave that started on Sunday, which reached 43C (109F) in Spain, has caused numerous wildfires to spread throughout the country.
More than 1,500 people and 5, 000 vehicles were evacuated from the Andalusian resort town Tarifa after a fire broke out near La Pena, a wooded area close to the beach. Strong winds were responsible for the rapid spread of the fire, which is thought to have started in a camper van.
The wind, or whether it shifts between the west and the east, is what worries us most at this time, according to Andalusia’s interior minister Antonio Sanz.
Despite nighttime efforts, residents were unable to leave the blaze, which remained active and stayed in hotels and tourist destinations.
Additionally, Corme Aldea village had to be evacuated because of a fire in the Galician region close to Ponteceso. According to state broadcaster RTVE, a blaze that erupted on Tuesday in Cadiz caused a large evacuation of the area.
Through Friday, the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET has issued orange alerts for various regions. Authorities for civil protection issue “high” or “extreme” fire risk warnings for a large portion of the nation.
According to data from the country’s national mortality monitoring system, the Ministry of Health reported 1, 060 extra deaths linked to extreme heat in July, a 57 percent increase over the same month last year. Although the data does not directly identify causes, it is frequently used to estimate heat-related deaths.
More than 42, 000 hectares (104, 000 acres) of wildfires have already been burned in Portugal, the largest area since 2022 and eight times as much as it was at this time last year. In the last two weeks, more than half of that land has been scorched.
On Wednesday, firefighters managed to control a large fire close to Vila Real in the north, but others are still active. Due to the city’s close proximity to densely populated areas, one fire in Amarante persisted, while another in A Coruna reached an emergency level 2.
More than 100 municipalities are in the highest risk of ignominating fire in soaring temperatures in Lisbon until August 7.
Source: Aljazeera
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