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Two firefighters were killed while battling a fast-moving wildfire on the Greek island of Crete as devastating blazes, driven by extreme heat and powerful winds, continued to spread across southern Europe.
The firefighters became trapped by rapidly advancing flames near the city of Rethymno, where gale-force winds fanned the fire, forcing authorities to evacuate several villages. Witnesses said multiple fires broke out across the island, with the largest fire front stretching nearly 15 kilometres.
The tragedy came as southern Europe faced another wave of extreme weather, with Greece, Turkey, Spain and France struggling to contain wildfires fuelled by scorching temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.
Greek authorities said wildfires had also erupted on the islands of Paros and Lesbos, as well as in the mainland town of Trifylia, stretching firefighting resources across the country.
In neighbouring Turkey, a wildfire in Muğla province forced the closure of the main highway linking the popular tourist destinations of Fethiye and Antalya. Part of a hospital was also evacuated as a precaution.
Spain and France have entered their fourth heatwave of the summer, raising fears that recently contained fires could reignite.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the next 12 hours would be critical in bringing a major wildfire near Madrid under control. Although the situation was improving, he warned that high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds continued to threaten firefighting efforts.
The blaze in Burgohondo, in Ávila province about 150 kilometres west of Madrid, has already burned more than 43,000 hectares, making it the largest wildfire ever recorded in Spain. More than 207,000 hectares have been destroyed by wildfires across the country so far this year.
Francisco Bolaños, one of the officials leading the firefighting operation, said the fire had remained stable overnight but cautioned that rising temperatures could trigger fresh flare-ups. Firefighters are working to secure a 180-kilometre perimeter around the affected area.
As conditions improved, Spanish authorities eased restrictions, allowing thousands of evacuated residents to return home. More than 24,000 people in the Madrid region have been permitted to return, while movement restrictions affecting another 20,000 residents have also been lifted.
Around 1,000 residents from the towns of Navas del Rey and Chapinería, who had been temporarily sheltered in Leganés, were among those allowed to return following the easing of evacuation orders. Source: BBC News