Firefighters battle fires across Europe as the region faces record heat

Key Points:

• France and central England are battling multiple wildfires amid a new wave of record-breaking heat and exceptionally dry conditions, with over 500 people evacuated in the Landes region of France and significant fires also reported in northern France and Brittany.
• The UK experienced its hottest day of the year with temperatures reaching 38.1°C (100.6°F) in west London, leading to numerous wildfires in the West Midlands that destroyed several houses and marked one of the most severe incidents for the local fire service.
• In Germany, a wildfire near the village of Gey forced the evacuation of 1,800 residents and firefighting efforts were hindered by unexploded World War II munitions, while in Croatia, a fire near Omis hospitalized 14 people and displaced over 1,000 residents amid strong winds.
• Albania is contending with 11 active wildfires, including a large blaze near residential areas in the Gure-Lure region now contained, with three individuals prosecuted for negligence related to a fire in Lura National Park.
• Northern Greece evacuated more than 300 people by sea due to a wildfire threatening coastal homes, highlighting widespread wildfire challenges across southern Europe linked to extreme heat and climate change.