Wildfires that have been tearing through forests in France and Spain, forcing residents to flee and filling the sky with smoke, are starting to ease.
Firefighters from across Europe are still battling the flames, and there are concerns that intense heatwaves raise the risk of more blazes breaking out.
In southwest France’s Gironde region and the mountainous Var department, massive fires have scorched tens of thousands of hectares before stabilising.Â
In southwest France’s Gironde region and the mountainous Var department, massive fires have scorched tens of thousands of hectares before stabilising.Â
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Officials say the country’s largest blaze since 1949 is now under control but still not fully extinguished.
In central Spain, fires that burned through tens of thousands of hectares near Madrid have eased, allowing many evacuees to return home, even as crews battle flare-ups and new hotspots in provinces including Leon and Caceres.
Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, and scientists warn that rising temperatures, prolonged drought and strong winds are turning southern Europe, especially France and Spain, into a far more flammable landscape.
In central Spain, fires that burned through tens of thousands of hectares near Madrid have eased, allowing many evacuees to return home, even as crews battle flare-ups and new hotspots in provinces including Leon and Caceres.
Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, and scientists warn that rising temperatures, prolonged drought and strong winds are turning southern Europe, especially France and Spain, into a far more flammable landscape.
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The number of summer days featuring fire-prone conditions more than doubling since the early 1980s.
Else where, Two crew have died after two firefighting helicopters collided in Greece.
A British pilot and a Greek crew member survived the crash, and have been taken to hospital for treatment.
Else where, Two crew have died after two firefighting helicopters collided in Greece.
A British pilot and a Greek crew member survived the crash, and have been taken to hospital for treatment.
Greek PM, Kyriakos Mitsotakis has shared condolences and his "deepest sorrow" following the incident.
The two people killed were a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service liaison officer.
The collision happened in Psatha, a coastal area west of Athens, on Sunday.
Greece is one of several European countries suffering wildfires - high winds are likely to be behind the fires' "rapid growth" says our weather presenter.
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