Southern France Wildfire

A record-breaking heatwave in France killed an estimated 5,764 people between mid-June and early July, the country's worst excess mortality from extreme heat since 2003. Public Health France reported that deaths exceeded normal levels by 36 percent from June 17 to July 2.

The deadliest period fell between June 25 and 27, when just over half of the unexpected deaths were recorded. France registered its hottest-ever days on June 24 and 25, with a national average of 30°C and peaks above 40°C. The Paris region saw deaths rise by roughly 80 percent. Around two-thirds of those who died were aged 75 or older.

Extreme weather also brought deadly wildfires across southern Europe. Two firefighters died in Gironde and a blaze in Var forced 400 people to flee, while Spain burned about 32,000 hectares in Guadalajara and Italy battled fires across Sicily.

A rapidly spreading wildfire that ignited in a field in Pontevès on Tuesday has charred roughly 1,700 hectares in the Var region, coming after multiple blazes hit southern France amid the country’s third heatwave of the year.

Between 300 and 400 residents were evacuated around the villages of Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens and Correns as flames advanced within hours. Nearly 1,000 firefighters were deployed to the ground, supported by eight Canadair water-bombers, four helicopters and two Dash aircraft. More than 2,300 homes lost electricity.

Four firefighters and two Pontevès residents suffered smoke inhalation, and a fire truck was damaged during operations, though all injuries were reported as minor.

Two firefighters have died while battling a fire near Bordeaux-Mérignac airport in southwestern France on Tuesday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced during a question session at the National Assembly.

The blaze broke out on a grassy, wooded area outside the airport perimeter, near a long-term car park and commercial buildings in Mérignac, Gironde department. Around one hundred firefighters responded alongside aerial assets, including two civil security aircraft based in Mérignac. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the fire had since been brought under control.

The Gironde department is currently under a red alert for wildfires, with forest fire risk elevated across the region.

Spain's third heatwave of the year began on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to reach 45°C across the southern and eastern Iberian Peninsula and red alerts issued in parts of Andalusia after earlier blazes devastated the countryside.

The Guadalajara wildfire, previously reported at 12,000 hectares, has now scorched more than 26,000 hectares, becoming the largest on record in Castilla-La Mancha, forcing the evacuation of 25 municipalities and displacing over 1,000 residents. All 17 natural parks in the Valencian Community have been temporarily closed due to extreme heat. Nationwide, more than 100,000 hectares have burned in Spain since January, double the area destroyed in the same period last year, according to European satellite data. Less than two weeks ago, 13 people died in a wildfire in Almería province, the country's deadliest in decades.

In neighbouring France, 27 departments remain on maximum fire alert with 40,000 hectares burned this season.