Europe is facing a “heat apocalypse” in which all-time temperature records are set to be broken France today during Spain fights dozens of wildfires that have claimed the life of a firefighter.
Across the western flank of the continent, extreme heat warnings are in effect today, with levels in excess of 104°F (40°C) predicted from Faro in southern Portugal to Manchester in the UK.
All-time records will fall across much of western France, with a possible 111F (44C) near Bordeaux in what forecasters have branded a “heat apocalypse”.
The extreme conditions have sparked dozens of fires, with crews in the Gironde – near Bordeaux – battling a “monster” blaze that has forced 16,000 people to evacuate and burn 14,000 acres since it began a week ago.
David Brunner, the commander of local firefighters who has worked in the area for more than three decades, said he had “never seen anything like it.”
Meanwhile, 36 fires are raging across Spain – two dozen out of control – one of which on Sunday killed a 62-year-old firefighter who burned to death about 60 miles south of Leon after being engulfed by flames.
“There are no words to thank the immense work of those fighting non-stop in front of the fire,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez tweeted as news of the death broke.
Two-thirds of the country’s entire fire brigade are now deployed to try to contain the blazes, with about 2,300 people evacuated from their homes.
Temperatures in the Iberian Peninsula are well above 104F, with the hottest regions hitting 110F on Sunday. The heat is expected to last through early in the week.
Almost all of Spain is now under an “extreme danger” fire warning, according to the EU’s emergency management program, with large parts of the southern and central regions under the highest “very extreme danger” warnings, which also include parts of eastern Portugal.
Portuguese authorities are also battling wildfires in their country, although the situation has eased since temperatures topped 47C (117F) last week.
Four wildfires are raging in Portugal today and 700 firefighters have been deployed to try to contain them, although that was fewer than 16 burning late Sunday.
A nationwide state of emergency is expected to last until Tuesday, when Parliament will consider whether to extend it. From today’s perspective, it is likely that the measures will be lifted.
The heatwave is the second in weeks to engulf parts of southwest Europe, and fires in France, Greece, Portugal and Spain have destroyed thousands of hectares of land and forced thousands of residents and holidaymakers to flee.
Scientists blame climate change and predict more frequent and intense episodes of extreme weather events such as heat waves and droughts.
The French Interior Ministry announced that it would send three additional firefighting planes, 200 firefighters and more trucks.
“There will be a heat apocalypse in some southwestern areas,” meteorologist Francois Gourand told AFP.
The chapel of a historic hospital in the south-eastern city of Lyon, Grand Hotel Dieu, offered shelter to tourists on Sunday, including Jean-Marc, 51, who was visiting from Alsace.
“We came back to admire the place but we can’t leave, it’s too hot outside. We say a prayer in front of the fire!’ he joked.
French cyclist Mikael Cherel, who competed in the 15th stage of the Tour de France between Rodez and Carcassonne in southern France on Sunday, described “very, very difficult conditions”.
“I have never experienced such a hot day on a bike. It really wasn’t a cakewalk.”
In Spain, firefighters managed to stabilize a wildfire that devastated 2,000 hectares of forest and bushes in the southern region of Andalusia, regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno said.
The fire started on Friday in the Mijas Mountains, inland from the southern coastal city of Malaga, and led to the evacuation of about 3,000 people.
Around 2,000 people had since returned home, and now that the fire has stabilized, Moreno said the remaining evacuees could do the same.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will visit the hard-hit eastern region of Extremadura on Monday, where various fires have been raging for days.
In Portugal, almost the entire country remained on high alert for wildfires, despite a slight drop in temperature, after reaching 47C on Thursday – a record for the month of July.
Only one major fire burned in the north on Sunday.
The fires have killed two people, injured around 60 and destroyed between 12,000 and 15,000 hectares of land in Portugal.
In the UK, the weather bureau issued a ‘red’ warning for extreme heat for the first time, warning of ‘danger to life’.
The Met Office said temperatures in southern England could surpass 40C for the first time on Monday or Tuesday, prompting some schools to say they would remain closed next week.
The mercury is expected to reach 38C in parts of the Netherlands on Tuesday.
