France, Spain Brace for Fresh Heatwave as Wildfires Continue

Email:online@newsofbahrain.com

Paris: France and Spain are preparing for another intense heatwave, with temperatures expected to climb above 40°C in some areas, raising fears of fresh wildfire outbreaks as both countries battle devastating blazes.

Spain's national weather agency has warned that the extreme heat will last until at least Sunday, increasing the risk of new fires. More than 100,000 people have been evacuated as uncontrolled wildfires continue to burn west of Madrid, where over 27,000 hectares have already been scorched.

In France, heatwave alerts have been issued for the Gironde and Landes regions, where soaring temperatures and strong winds are hampering efforts to contain major wildfires. Around 220,000 people have been evacuated, with one blaze advancing to within 15km of Bordeaux.

President Emmanuel Macron described the Gironde wildfire as the country's toughest since World War II, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said France has recorded more than 13,500 wildfires and 116,000 hectares of burned land this year. Authorities said most fires were caused by human activity, with 162 arrests made since early July over suspected arson and negligence.

Officials in both countries have warned residents to remain vigilant as the approaching heatwave is expected to worsen fire conditions and complicate firefighting efforts in the coming days.

Pic Credit: AFP