Thousands evacuated across Europe as wildfires rage in France, Italy and Spain

Red heat alerts remain in place across Spain as wildfires burn across the country. Credit: APTN

Emergency services across Europe are continuing to fight wildfires as a heatwave sweeps across the Mediterranean, bringing scorching temperatures.

On Thursday, huge wildfires were still burning thousands of hectares across Italy, France and Spain, as temperatures in Sicily reached 49C this week.

Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET has also warned of “extraordinary danger”, with forecasters predicting highs of 44C – approaching the nation’s 47.6C heat record from five years ago.

ITV News takes a closer look.

Spain

Dangerous red heat alerts have been issued across south-eastern Spain, with Valle del Almanzora and Almería expected to hit more than 44C on Thursday.

More than 32,000 hectares have been burnt in Guadalajara, central Spain, as the country’s second-largest wildfire or record continues to blaze after nearly a week.

People were evacuated from 34 villages, and local authorities said water-dropping aircraft have managed to protect homes from burning.

Emiliano García-Page, regional president of Castilla La Mancha, about 106 miles south of Madrid, said firefighters hope to have the wildfire under control by Friday.

Miguel Ángel Moreno, a local mayor of one of the evacuated villages, said some residents had taken refuge at a Red Cross shelter.

He described firefighters tackling the blaze as unnamed heroes who deserve as much admiration as the World Cup winners.

In León, northern Spain, two localities have been evacuated as emergency services battle a forest fire, Spanish police said.

France

About 20,000 people were evacuated from towns and holiday resorts along France’s Atlantic coast on Thursday as the latest in a series of wildfires raged, with hundreds of firefighters deployed to tackle the blaze.

Local authorities said the fire in a forest near the town of Lège-Cap Ferret, southwest of Bordeaux, had spread across more than 31 square kilometres (12 square miles), though no injuries have been reported.

Head of the Gironde, Sophie Brocas, said around 700 firefighters had been deployed, including crews sent from the Paris region.

Drone footage captures fire scorching across the Bordeaux region in southwest France

Credit: Alice Al, EBU

The fire came within 300 metres (980 feet) of the first homes in Lège, with water-bombing aircraft being used to tackle the blaze.

Later in the day, the prefecture said the wildfire had not yet been brought under control but remained contained to the north of Lège.

More than 10,000 people, including tourists staying at holiday camps and campsites, were evacuated overnight, alongside more than 1,000 residents living near the forest edge.

Authorities later evacuated the village of Claouey, including people staying at several campsites, as a precaution, with Brocas saying 8,800 people were moved to safety.

Several municipalities have opened reception and temporary shelter centres for those evacuated, the prefecture said.

Italy

Firefighters in Sicily have carried out more than 1,000 wildfire operations since Saturday and have worked double shifts in an attempt to battle the blazes.

The Italian fire brigade and minister Matteo Piantedosi shared their condolences on Wednesday after a firefighter died trying to extinguish a wildfire in San Cataldo.

Emergency services have also been put under strain as temperatures in Palermo soared to 49C and didn’t fall below 30C in the evening.

Wind has fuelled the flames, turning land to ash and threatening homes and businesses.

Elsewhere, in Santo Stefano Quisquina, at least 100 people were evacuated due to a large fire near the town centre on Wednesday.

In Calabria, southern Italy, fires continue to burn as authorities probe investigations into suspected arson.

Domenico Costarella, who works for Calabria’s Civil Protection Agency, said cats with “flammable-soaked rags tied to their tails” were seen “running around and spreading the fire”.

It is not the first time cats have been used to start fires, as authorities in Sicily reported an incident in a national park in 2016.

A year later, the same method was used for arson near Mount Vesuvius.