As fires raged in parts of France, Spain and Portugal on Friday, many people were forced to flee their homes, and health advisories were issued across the European continent as temperatures soared. As of 2011 Associated Press In southwest France, the Bordeaux region has experienced two wildfires that have forced the evacuation of 11,300 people and destroyed pine forests near the Atlantic coast. Nearly 1,000 firefighters and 10 water jets were working around the clock to bring the blaze under control Friday, despite being hampered by high temperatures and strong winds.
It is worth mentioning here that wildfires have been devastating in Portugal this week. More than 3,000 firefighters have been working alongside ordinary Portuguese citizens to protect their homes from the wildfires raging across the country. Ten fires were still burning Friday due to extreme heat and drought, the country’s civil protection agency said, with those in the north posing the greatest threat.
Health warnings for Europe
Portuguese authorities said the hottest day of the year in July, with a high of 47 degrees Celsius, was recorded in the northern city of Pinhao on Wednesday.
According to a report released by the Portuguese national broadcaster RTP on Friday, this year’s fire damage has exceeded that of 2021. According to the report, more than 30,000 hectares of land have burned, especially in the last week.
Separately, fire tenders in Spain are battling for a fifth day to put out a blaze that was sparked by lightning and has burned 5,500 hectares in the Las Hurdes area of the central west. By late Thursday, 400 residents from eight villages had been evacuated as the fire moved closer to their homes and threatened to spread to nearby Monfrage National Park. According to government reports, 17 wildfires are keeping firefighters busy in Spain on Friday. Authorities in northeastern Catalonia have banned access to several mountainous areas to prevent possible wildfires. Associated Press He reported.
In addition to Spain, Portugal and France, other European countries such as Croatia and Hungary have been hit by wildfires this week.
UK Red High Temperature Warning
Meanwhile, much of England received its first severe hot weather warning from the Met Office on Monday and Tuesday, with unusually hot weather expected to have widespread consequences for people and infrastructure. Independent He reported. Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: “We have issued a red warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday, the first warning issued to date.” The extreme heat could cause “extremely severe conditions”, the Met Office warned.
The warning is in effect especially from London to Manchester and then to the Vale of York. Ministers have said the NHS is preparing for a “peak” of demand, warning of major disruption for train passengers due to high temperatures on rail lines.
On Monday and Tuesday, the Met Office expects “exceptional, possibly record-breaking, temperatures,” The Independent reported. Nights are expected to be very warm, especially in metropolitan areas. The widespread impact on both people and infrastructure is likely due to this.
