Fires scorch Spain and France, where flames reach the beach
So far, there have been no fire-related deaths in France or Spain, but authorities in Madrid have blamed soaring temperatures for hundreds of deaths.[IFRC Europe]
PARIS (AP) – Firefighters battled wildfires raging out of control in Spain and France, including one whose flames reached two popular Atlantic beaches.
Europe wilted under an unusually extreme heat wave Sunday. So far, there have been no fire-related deaths in France or Spain, but authorities in Madrid have blamed soaring temperatures for hundreds of deaths.
Two huge blazes in southwestern France have forced the evacuation of some 16,200 people. In dramatic images posted online, a wall of black smoke could be seen rolling toward the Atlantic on a stretch of Bordeaux’s coast that is prized by surfers from around the world.
In Spain, firefighters supported by military brigades tried to stamp out over 30 fires consuming forests spread across the country.