2 weeks ago

Europe battles wildfires as record heat and drought fuel blazes

Europe battles wildfires as record heat and drought fuel blazes
Europe battles wildfires as record heat, drought fuel blazes across France, UK and Spain · firstpost.com

This summer, Europe is very hot and very dry, which makes wildfires easy to start and hard to stop.

Wildfires are big fires that spread quickly through trees and dry land.

Many countries in Europe were fighting these fires at the same time.

In France, more than 500 people had to leave their homes because of a new fire, and last month a big fire near Bordeaux made about 250,000 people leave.

In England, a fire destroyed around 20 to 30 homes in a town called Stourbridge.

In Germany, everyone in the village of Gey had to leave because the fire came close.

In Croatia, one person sadly died and 14 people were hurt and stayed in hospital.

Many people in Europe had to escape by sea when fires blocked the land.

Scientists say the very hot weather is partly caused by climate change, which comes from human activities.

Firefighters worked very hard to protect homes, forests and people.

Key facts

France drought
Driest year on record
Stourbridge homes destroyed
Around 20 to 30 homes
Britain's hottest day
38.1°C recorded in west London on Thursday
England and Wales July rainfall
Driest month since records began in 1836
Huelva fire size
More than 300 square kilometres burned
Gey evacuation
All 1,800 residents evacuated in western Germany
Germany heat-related deaths
About 12,500 estimated between January 1 and August 2 by the Robert Koch Institute
EDF nuclear reactors
Six reactors shut down due to heat and drought

Sources

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