Many French return home after wildfires, but new blazes pop up
Key Points:
- The wildfire emergency in western Europe has eased, but Greece faces its most dangerous fire front, with gale-force winds spreading flames through the seaside resort of Porto Germeno and forcing hundreds to evacuate by sea.
- Firefighters in southwestern France have contained a massive wildfire that led to possibly the country's largest peacetime evacuation, allowing about 198,000 people to return home, though some areas remain evacuated due to active hotspots.
- Major fires in Spain have stopped advancing, and Portugal's primary blaze is under control, marking significant progress in the region after widespread evacuations and strain on emergency services.
- Greece's wildfires are exacerbated by strong winds, hampering firefighting efforts, including water-dropping aircraft, with new fires prompting further evacuations in multiple villages.
- Residents returning to fire-affected areas in France confront extensive destruction, with many homes and businesses reduced to ruins, highlighting the long-term impact of Europe's increasingly severe wildfire season amid climate change.