Wildfires continued to rage across Spain and France on Wednesday as an intense heatwave gripped Southern Europe, with authorities warning that the risk of new fires remains extremely high despite progress in containing some of the largest blazes.
Read More: Europe heatwave fuels wildfires, evacuations
Spain’s biggest wildfire of the year has scorched approximately 32,000 hectares in the central province of Guadalajara. Although firefighters have managed to stabilise the blaze, thousands of residents were previously evacuated from dozens of municipalities, while some communities have now been allowed to return home.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, during a visit to the affected region, said the country has already experienced 22 major wildfires this year, with nearly 100,000 hectares burned before the peak wildfire season. He stressed the need for stronger prevention measures as prolonged heat and dry conditions continue to fuel fires.
Spain’s national weather agency warned that wildfire danger remains “very high to extreme” across much of the country, with temperatures expected to reach 42 to 44 degrees Celsius in some Mediterranean regions before easing later in the week.
In France, firefighters are battling multiple wildfires as authorities mourn the deaths of two firefighters whose vehicle was engulfed by flames in the Gironde region. Officials evacuated hundreds of residents near the village of Saumos, while several roads leading to popular beach destinations were temporarily closed.
French authorities urged the public to avoid activities that could spark fires, including barbecues and machinery using combustion engines, noting that most wildfires are caused by human activity.
According to officials, around 44,000 hectares have burned in France this year, significantly above the long-term average. Additional fires remain active in southeastern regions, where dozens of homes have been damaged.
Read More: Spain wildfire turns escape routes deadly
Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts and wildfires across Europe. Meanwhile, parts of the Western Balkans have shifted from extreme heat to severe storms, with hail, flooding and power outages reported in North Macedonia and Kosovo.