Hungary, Croatia and the Greek island of Crete have also fought wildfires this week, as have Morocco and California. There are more fires near the central city of Ávila, in northwest Galicia, among other areas. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced a joint command that will take over coordinating the efforts to battle the fires that are active in the adjoining regions.įirefighters have been unable to stop the advance of a fire that broke out near the city of Cáceres that is threatening the Monfragüe National Park and has kept 200 people from returning to their homes.Īnother fire in southern Spain near the city of Malaga has forced the evacuation of a further 2,500 people. Some of the most worrisome blazes in Spain are concentrated in the western regions of Extremadura and Castilla y León. Another flank, however, remains unchecked. Authorities said that one flank has been brought under control by the dumping of white sand along a two-kilometer (1.2-mile) stretch. The Gironde regional government said on Sunday that 'the situation remains unfavorable' due to gusting winds that, combined with hot and dry conditions, have fanned more flare-ups overnight.ĪP Firefighters take a break in the village of Lagoa Parada, in central Portugal, on Thursday after battling a forest fire that flared anew.Ī second fire near the town of Landiras, south of a valley of Bordeaux vineyards, has forced authorities to evacuate 4,100 people this week, including some 1,900 on Saturday. In France, the fire in La Teste-de-Buch near the Atlantic coast has forced 10,000 people to flee. That was compared with 25 temperature-related deaths the previous five days. According to Spain's Carlos III Institute, which records temperature-related fatalities daily, 237 deaths were attributed to high temperatures from July 10-14. In Spain the second heat wave of the summer has kept highs above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas. In Portugal, a pilot of a firefighting plane died when his aircraft crashed on Friday.īut as temperatures remain unusually high, heat-related deaths have soared. So far, there have been no fire-related deaths in France or Spain. Many areas are rugged, hilly terrain that makes it difficult for ground crews to access. Spain's National Defense Department said that 'the majority' of its fire-fighting aircraft have been deployed. In Spain, firefighters supported by the armed forces' emergency brigades are trying to stamp out over 30 fires consuming forests spread across the country. Two huge blazes that have been consuming pine forests for six days just south of the city of Bordeaux in southwest France have forced the evacuation of some 14,000 people, including many who were set to spend their vacation at campsites.

PARIS - Firefighters struggled on Sunday to contain wildfires raging out of control in France and Spain as Europe wilts under an unusually extreme heat wave that authorities link to a rise in excess mortality.

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