Wildfires are continuing to spread across France and Greece, impacting tourism and forcing thousands of residents and visitors to evacuate their homes. In France's Provence region, a wildfire has continued to spread despite the deployment of 1,300 firefighters. As of last night, approximately 2,500 people remained unable to return to their homes.
Campsites in the south-west of France have become deserted as holidaymakers avoid the affected areas following weeks of ongoing fires. One campsite manager near Biscarrosse reported that a recent evacuation of 1,200 people in just 30 minutes has deterred further bookings, leaving the site empty despite typically being fully booked.
Across the border in Greece, hundreds of firefighters are battling wind-fueled fires near Porto Germeno, a tourist hotspot located about 45 miles from Athens. A large wall of fire and smoke has engulfed forests near the Gulf of Corinth. Authorities have stated that strong winds are exacerbating the situation, making the fire's spread unpredictable. "The situation is extremely hard, especially today. We have really strong winds, gusts exceeding 73 kph (45 mph). The direction of the fire can’t be determined easily," said Giorgos Doulas, a doctor and firefighter.
Earlier, more than 200 people were evacuated by sea from the town of Agios Vasileios in Viotia, central Greece. Local media reported that around 500 people, primarily tourists, were left stranded after a fire broke out Friday morning and rapidly spread due to strong winds. Footage depicted residents and holidaymakers boarding boats as volunteers and rescue teams assisted in their removal.
Europe has experienced a severe wildfire season this summer, attributed to successive record-breaking heatwaves that have left vegetation dry and susceptible to ignition. In Italy, authorities have placed nearly all major cities on high alert for extreme temperatures as a new heatwave is forecast to bring temperatures into the mid-30s Celsius next week.
These high temperatures have not only created conditions favorable for wildfires but have also led to a significant increase in heat-related deaths across the continent. In Austria, 395 heat-related deaths were recorded in June. Britain has reported 2,877 deaths linked to heat so far this year, while France reported 5,664 excess deaths between June 17 and July 2. Germany's health authority has recorded approximately 9,800 deaths this year associated with high temperatures.