An extreme heatwave with temperatures topping 40 degrees C has forced thousands to evacuate across the continent
Record-breaking heat across Europe has fueled fierce wildfires that have forced thousands of residents to evacuate. Temperatures hit well beyond 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees F) in some areas on Wednesday.
Extreme heat returned to the continent this week after a brief respite. Earlier this summer, two powerful heatwaves shattered temperature records, with days of unrelenting heat impacting public health, agriculture, and energy systems across the continent.
Footage obtained by RT shows firefighters, particularly in Spain, Italy, Montenegro, and Greece, battling roaring wildfires. In Spain and Italy, emergency crews are deploying water-dropping aircraft and fire engines to protect towns and historic sites.
In Montenegro, military and firefighting units are working in the hills north of the capital Podgorica to contain the raging fires. Videos from Greece show crews striving to shield residential areas and the countryside from advancing flames.
Wildfires have also been reported recently in Portugal, Croatia, Turkey, Albania, and the UK. Record-breaking temperatures have been registered this week in France, Croatia, and Portugal, with heat levels continuing to rise across parts of southern and central Europe.
Greece and Spain have been the hardest hit by wildfires this week amid soaring temperatures and dry conditions.
In Greece, over 100 wildfires erupted within 48 hours, leading to mass evacuations in regions such as Achaia, where 7,500 residents were relocated. Nearly 5,000 firefighters and 33 aircraft have been deployed to contain the blazes, which have caused injuries and significant property damage.
Meanwhile, in Spain, wildfires have burned more than 39,000 hectares, especially in the Castile and Leon regions, where over 5,000 people were evacuated.
The fires have resulted in several fatalities, including a volunteer firefighter near Nogarejas and a man in the Madrid suburb of Tres Cantos.
The authorities in both countries continue to urge vigilance as the wildfire threat remains severe.
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