Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes as fires blistered parts of France, Spain and Portugal on Friday, while health warnings were issued across the continent as temperatures soared.
More than 1000 firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft, were battling two massive blazes in south-western France that have been fanned by scorching heat, tinder-box conditions and strong winds.
Fires burn out of control near Landiras, south of Bordeaux.Credit:AP
Temperatures in Portugal were still expected to top 40 degrees in some places as authorities put five districts on red alert for extreme weather. Some 13 wildfires were also burning out of control across the country.
In Spain, the Environment Ministry said firefighters were tackling 17 wildfires. Officials were worried about the effects on people’s health and on healthcare systems already challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
From July 7 to July 13, Portugal registered 238 excess deaths due to the heatwave, the country’s DGS health authority said.
“In this specific case, the excess can be attributed to the heatwave. In the last few days we have had very high, extreme temperatures … and for a very long period,” DGS chief Graça Freitas told Lusa news agency.
Firefighters resting in the mountains of Alvaiazere, Portugal.Credit:Getty Images
Health Minister Marta Temido said the health system faced a “particularly worrying” week due to the heatwave and said some hospitals were overwhelmed.
The World Meteorological Organisation said the heatwave would trap atmospheric pollutants, degrading the air quality, especially in towns and cities.
UK issues weather warning
Britain’s weather forecaster issued its first red “extreme heat” warning for parts of England on Monday and Tuesday when temperatures are forecast to reach record highs.
A man finds shade in London. The British Met Office says temperatures won’t peak until next week.Credit:AP
“Exceptional, perhaps record-breaking temperatures are likely early next week,” Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said.
“Nights are also likely to be exceptionally warm, especially in urban areas. This is likely to lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure.”
The highest recorded temperature in Britain was 38.7 degrees in Cambridge on July 25, 2019. That record could fall.
Hannah Cloke, climate expert at the University of Reading, said the heatwave showed climate change is here and there is an urgent need to adapt.
“We are seeing these problems now and they are going to get worse. We need to do something now,” she said. “It’s harder to cope with these types of temperatures in the UK because we’re just not used to them.”
A Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft – brought in from Italy – in action near Gesteira de Baixo in Portugal.Credit:Getty Images
Portugal on Thursday recorded a high of 47 degrees in the northern town of Pinhao – just below the record.
In France’s south-western Gironde region – famous for the vineyards of Bordeaux and idyllic Atlantic Coast resorts – 11,300 people have been evacuated since the wildfires broke out around Dune du Pilat and Landiras.
Some 7350 hectares of land have been burnt and authorities said the fires had not yet been stabilised.
In Spain, the wildfires that have been burning in parts of Extremadura, which borders Portugal, and the central Castille and Leon region forced the evacuation of more small villages on Friday. The flames were threatening a 16th-century monastery and a national park.
In Catalonia in the north-east, authorities suspended camping and sporting activities around 275 towns and villages to prevent fire risks and restricted farm work involving machinery.
Areas of Galicia and Extremadura remained on extreme alert for temperatures expected to touch 44 degrees.
Reuters
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