- Wildfires have left areas in France and Spain looking like a ‘warzone’ as extreme temperatures soar.
- In the greater Madrid area, about 6,000 hectares (23 square miles) burnt overnight, bringing the total area scorched to about 131 square miles.
- The majority of 3,500 residents in the town of Le Porge were forced to leave their homes as flames approached.
- About 24,000 of the 63,000 people who had been evacuated amid the wildfires in Spain have been allowed to return home.
Wildfires continue to devastate parts of France and Spain as extreme heat grips the region, with temperatures in Bordeaux expected to reach 42°C and over 100°F in Spain.1
The ongoing heat wave, which has plagued Western Europe since May, has led to a series of heat domes, exacerbating the wildfire situation.
In Spain, approximately 63,000 people were evacuated due to the wildfires, with 24,000 now allowed to return home. The fires have ravaged about 6,000 hectares (23 square miles) overnight in the greater Madrid area, bringing the total area scorched to 131 square miles.4
The situation remains dire as firefighters battle the blazes amid soaring temperatures, with forecasts indicating that the heat wave will persist at least until Sunday.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant as the risk of further wildfires increases with the ongoing extreme weather conditions.
“About 6,000 hectares (23 square miles) burnt overnight in the greater Madrid area, bringing the total area scorched to approximately 131 square miles. Meanwhile, the majority of 3,500 residents in Le Porge were forced to evacuate, while 24,000 of the 63,000 evacuees in Spain have been allowed to return home.”
