Authorities across southern Europe battled to control huge wildfires in countries including Spain, Greece and France, with hundreds of deaths blamed on soaring temperatures that scientists say are consistent with climate change.
In Spain, helicopters dropped water on the flames as heat above 40 degrees Celsius and often mountainous terrain made the job harder for firefighters.Shocked residents watching thick plumes of smoke rising above the central western Jerte valley said the heat was making their previously green and cool home more like Spain's semi-arid south."Climate change affects everyone," said resident Miguel Angel Tamayo.
In France, wildfires have now spread over 11,000 hectares in the southwestern region of Gironde, and more than 14,000 people have been evacuated, regional authorities said on Sunday afternoon.More than 1,200 firefighters were trying to control the blazes, the authorities said in a statement.France issued red alerts, the highest possible, for several regions, with residents urged"to be extremely vigilant.
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