Heatwaves have caused death and destruction in southern Europe, with tourist spots looking like “Dante’s fire” yesterday.
It could be worse, with officials warning that further warming expected this week represents an “exciting” outlook that could increase the death toll and exacerbate wildfires.
14,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, hotels and campsites in southwestern France’s Aquitaine region as two “extraordinary” forest fires rage. A pine forest the size of Paris has been reduced to charcoal.
When the temperature exceeds 40C, wildfires break out across Europe
The fires in southwest France are the worst since 1949, when 50,000 hectares were destroyed and 82 people were killed.
A flame tore into the pine
