Wildfires sweep southern Europe as heatwave fuels blazes from France to Sicily

· Environment FRAESPITAGRC
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Wildfires have erupted across southern Europe, with multiple blazes devastating parts of southern France amid the country’s third heatwave of the year. More than 600 firefighters battled the most severe fire in the Taradeau area, where flames driven by wind toward Les Arcs-sur-Argens forced the evacuation of 150 people and destroyed several homes. Train services between Toulon and Les Arcs were suspended as a separate fire near Fréjus scorched roughly 180 hectares on Sunday.

In Spain, firefighters tackled blazes near Madrid and in Guadalajara province, where around 1,500 hectares burned, and AEMET warned temperatures could reach 42–44°C in parts of Andalusia next week. Sicily also faced critical conditions, with water-dropping aircraft deployed over Palermo as fires threatened rural buildings.

Greece placed the Athens metropolitan area on high alert. The World Meteorological Organization warned in June of worsened wildfire risk from sustained high temperatures across the region.

Story development

  1. Macron declares wildfire in France's Landes department under control
  2. Bordeaux shelters thousands of evacuees as wildfires rage but city itself not threatened
  3. Macron activates EU civil protection as wildfires kill two firefighters and force mass evacuations
  4. Wildfire near Bordeaux destroys 2,000 hectares and forces mass tourist evacuations
  5. Fast-moving wildfire scorches 1,700 hectares in southern France, forcing hundreds to flee
  6. Wildfires sweep southern Europe as heatwave fuels blazes from France to Sicily

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