Wildfire danger in Europe shifts to Greece as evacuation orders remain in France

Key Points:

• The wildfire emergency in western Europe has eased, but the most dangerous fires have shifted to Greece, where gale-force winds have driven flames through a seaside resort, forcing hundreds to evacuate by sea and hindering firefighting efforts.
• In southwestern France, a massive wildfire in Gironde is now contained within its perimeter, allowing nearly 198,000 people to return home after one of the country's largest evacuations, though some areas remain evacuated due to lingering hot spots.
• Southeastern France's Var region continues to battle an active wildfire, with 1,500 firefighters working to contain it and about 2,500 residents still displaced after the fire was reignited by strong winds.
• The wildfires have caused significant destruction, with entire communities in France reduced to ruins and residents confronting the loss of homes and livelihoods, highlighting the severe impact of climate-driven fires in Europe's fastest-warming continent.
• Greece faces particularly challenging conditions due to strong winds and extreme turbulence, which have hampered aerial firefighting efforts and led to new fires and evacuation orders, recalling the deadly 2018 Mati wildfire near Athens.