Europe heat feeds forest fires, forcing evacuations in multiple countries

A heat wave that grabbed parts of Europe sent temperatures to more than 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit – 40 degrees Celsius – in southern France and Western Balkans on Monday, feeding on Monday, feeding forest fires And trigger high -level climatic alerts in several countries in what scientists warn is the fastest continent in the world.

The fires were burned in the Aude Vinícola region of France, along the borders of southern Bulgaria, near the capital and the coast of Montenegro, and in the northwest of Turkey, and Hungary recorded record temperatures.

It is expected that 2025 be the second or third most warmer year registered, according to the Carbon Brief report based in the United Kingdom. The extreme heat in Europe fits that global pattern, but the continent is heating much faster than the rest of the world.

Earth’s temperatures have increased around 2.3 C above pre -industrial levels, almost twice the global average, intensifying heat waves and record fire seasons.

With important outbreaks in Spain, Portugal and mortal flames in Greece since the end of June, the burned area is already well above the seasonal norm.

France in maximum alert

On Monday, the French National Meteorological Authority, Météo-France, placed 12 departments on red alert, the highest heat warning in the country, anticipating exceptional heat that extends from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean plains. Forty -one other departments were low lower level orange alerts, as well as the neighboring microstate of Andorra, between France and Spain.

“Do not be deceived, this is not ‘normal, it is summer’. It is not normal, it is a nightmare,” said agricultural climatologist Serge Zaka to Montauban’s BFMTV radio station in the department of Tarn-Et-Egaronne in France, where the abrasing heat relentlessly pressed throughout the day.

The images of social networks showed closed streets in Valence, residents protected windows with aluminum foil to reflect the light and tourists curl up under the umbrella along the Garonne in Toulouse. On the other side of the south, the coffee terraces were empty while people were looking for colder corners inside.

In the Aude department of France, a Mosaic of Mediterranean vineyards and thickets, hundreds of firefighters remained in the undulating wine that took the edges of a massive and mortal fire that burned 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) last week. The authorities say that the fire is under control, but warns that it will not be completely extinguished for weeks, and the still smoking and at risk of reviving.

The red alert in France has been issued only eight times since it was created in 2004 after a mortal summer of the previous year. It is reserved for extreme and prolonged heat with great health risks and the potential to interrupt everyday life. The designation offers local officials to cancel outdoor events, close public places and alter school schedules or summer camps.

The heat wave, the second of the summer of France, began on Friday and is expected to last all week, leading to the festive weekend of August 15. He is already pushing to the north, with 38 C, or 100.4 F, forecast in the Loire Center-Center region and up to 34 C, or 93.2 F, in Paris.

Heat health alerts in the United Kingdom

Throughout the La Mancha channel, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency issued multiple heat health alerts, which aims to give an early warning when temperatures are likely to affect the health and well -being of the population. Some alerts were yellow, while others were updated to Amber, which is a level below the highest, red level. The alerts will be in force on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The News themezone partner, BBC News informs that the hottest climate is expected to be in the center and south of England, with the temperatures that are predicted to exceed the official criteria for a heat wave for at least three days in a row, with a maximum of 34 C, or 93 F, possible on Tuesday.

It will be the fourth heat wave of the country this summer.

Western Balkans

Montenegro reported that forest fires near the podgorica capital already along the Adriatic coast, which caused urgent appeals to obtain help from neighboring countries. The families were evacuated from an area north of the capital, since the Army units worked to protect the ruins of the old city of Duklja.

The senior emergency official Nikola Bojanovic described the situation as “catastrophic”, with strong winds that drive the flames. The authorities urged residents to conserve drinking water to avoid restrictions.

The fires also burned on Canj, a popular coastal complex.

The southern city of Mostar de Bosnia reached 43 C, which is 109 F, while Dubrovnik de Croatia hit 34 C, or 93 F, in the morning.

“It’s too hot, this is not normal,” said Fatima Safro, resident of Moste. “It’s very hot even during the night.”

In Serbia, the Farmers of Suva Planina Mountain renewed the appeals for emergency water supply after the streams and ponds dried.

Maximum fire danger alerts in Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, temperatures were expected to exceed 40 C, or 104 F, on Monday at the peak of the day, with maximum fire danger alerts instead.

Almost 200 fires have been reported; Most have been controlled, located and extinguished, but the situation remains “very challenging,” said Alexander Dzhartov, head of the National Fire Security Unit. Three main calls continue along the borders with Greece and Türkiye, including a fence of Stumyani that revived after three weeks.

More than 100 firefighters and emergency personnel are struggling against the flames on injured field unattainable by vehicles, with the support of army helicopters and two Swedish airplanes.

Evacuations in Türkiye

In Türkiye, a forest fire fed by high temperatures and strong winds forced the authorities to evacuate holiday houses and a university campus and suspend maritime traffic in the northwest of the country.

The fire broke out in an agricultural field in the province of Canakkale and extended to the surrounding forests, only two days after the fire extinguishing equipment had contained a similar fire in the area. The governor of Canakkale, Omer Toraman, said that the Dardanelles Strait, the narrow river route that joins the Aegean Sea with the Marmara Sea, closed to allow water airplanes and helicopters to operate safely.

Hungary record record records records

Sunday brought a new national maximum of 39.9 C, or 104 F, on Sunday in southeast Hungary, breaking a record established in 1948. Budapest also registered a city record at 38.7 C, or 101.6 F.

The authorities imposed a national fire prohibition amid and extreme drought.

• Turkey
• Forest fire
• Bulgaria
• Hungary
• Heat wave
• France