Quarter of a million people flee wildfires in Southern Europe
The French Interior Minister has warned of a “long and very difficult battle” against a fire raging in southwestern France. Spain has declared its first ever national emergency over a wildfire. And the Scottish government has asked for aerial support from the UK military to boost the response to a major fire in the Highlands.
Scottish police declared a major incident after a change in wind conditions accelerated the fire in the Cairngorms National Park, prompting the evacuation of local residents as a precaution.
Meanwhile on mainland Europe, the rapid spread of wildfires is causing devastation and upheaval.
Across Sicily, Firefighters are tackling numerous individual blazes. A major fire west of the Spanish capital Madrid has already forced 70,000 people to leave their homes.
In southwest France the government has now sent soldiers in to help battle a massive fire, which this morning forced the evacuations of some residents in the suburbs of Bordeaux.
Video Summary
AI GeneratedSevere wildfires are devastating parts of Europe, including France, Spain, Sicily, and Scotland. Massive evacuations have occurred in Bordeaux and Madrid, with military assets and EU international aid deployed to combat the blazes. Experts warn that climate change has created a \"new normal\" of extreme fire behavior, necessitating better land management and cross-sectoral collaboration.