Thousands of people have been evacuated in southern France as out-of-control wildfires spread amid a severe heatwave, while separate incidents of shoppers fighting over cooling appliances have been reported in supermarkets.
Nearly 3,000 people were evacuated from campsites and other areas in the Pyrénées-Orientales department as wildfires swept through. The fire began at a campsite in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, destroying dozens of mobile homes and spreading to Canet-en-Roussillon. The airport in nearby Perpignan was closed as approximately two thousand firefighters worked to control the blazes. Four helicopters and three Canadair firefighting planes were deployed to assist.
Another fire in the Aude region scorched around 900 hectares, with strong winds of up to 70 kilometers per hour complicating firefighting efforts. Nearly 700 firefighters were involved in tackling this blaze. In total, about 3,000 people were evacuated across the affected areas, with half of those from three campsites.
In northern Portugal, a forest fire that began Wednesday in Vouzela, Viseu district, injured four people, including three firefighters and one civilian. Over 900 firefighters were battling this blaze, while hundreds of emergency services were also engaged in fighting three other fires in the region, where temperatures were predicted to reach 44C.
The extreme heat has also led to intense competition for cooling devices in France. Reports emerged of vicious fights in Lidl stores as shoppers vied for fans and air conditioners before temperatures were forecast to reach 37C over the weekend. Videos circulating on social media depicted chaotic scenes, including customers fighting, yanking hair, and stampeding through aisles. Despite Lidl's announcement of stocking 200,000 fans and air conditioners, many stores experienced shortages, leading to frustration and altercations.
One resident described the situation as "ridiculous, people have gone completely mad." Another criticized the store, stating, "Lidl knew perfectly well it would be chaos and they didn't organise anything." In some instances, police intervention was required to restore order.
Scientists have indicated that the heatwave, which began on June 20, is the worst recorded in Europe. The extreme conditions have disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure, and overwhelmed healthcare systems. The World Meteorological Organization had previously warned that record temperatures would increase the risk of wildfires.
In response to the heatwave, French Green party lawmakers announced plans to file a no-confidence motion against the government, citing a lack of preparedness. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's minority government faces scrutiny over its handling of the crisis. The government has stated that the motion is a political maneuver amidst their efforts to manage the situation.