Europe heatwave latest: Two killed in Spanish wildfire as extreme temperatures sweep the continent
Spain’s first major wildfire of the year has killed two people as a brutal heatwave breaks temperature records across Europe.
The wildfire has burned fast and furious through 6,500 hectares (16,100 acres) of land across several Catalan regions, local media reports the fire chief innsepctor as saying.
Spanish president Pedro Sanchez said his thoughts were with the families of those killed in the blaze.
“In these months of higher risk, please, let us take extreme precautions,” he said.
Turkey also battled wildfires for a third day, forcing the evacuation of about 50,000 people.
France has closed the Eiffel Tower summit and shuttered almost 2,000 schools as Spain and Portugal logged their highest-ever June temperatures as authorities took urgent measures across Mediterranean nations.
Italy banned outdoor work in some parts as red alerts were issued in 17 major cities. In Florence, power outages hit the city centre, and a worker near Bologna died in a suspected heat-related incident.
The current high-pressure system set in late last week, bringing temperatures up to 10C higher than normal for this time in summer, with the system moving east across Europe from the Iberian peninsula.
