Thousands Evacuated as Wildfires Rage Across Europe Amid Heat Wave

Thousands of people were urged to evacuate on Thursday as forest fires continued to blaze through parts of Europe.

The latest fires come as Europe prepares for another heat wave with temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) forecast in some areas.

So far in 2026, wildfires have burnt more land in Europe than the annual average over the past two decades.

Climate change is making extreme weather events such as heat waves and the forest fires that ensure more frequent and more severe.

France evacuates tourist hotspot

In France, authorities evacuated 7,000 people "as a precaution" on Thursday north of Cap Ferret, near the tourist hub of Arcachon Bay. This brings the total number of evacuees in the area to 12,000.

Fires had ravaged around 2,000 hectares (nearly 5,000 acres), authorities said on Wednesday.

Earlier, on Tuesday, two firefighters died while battling a fire that broke out near Bordeaux airport.

Spanish PM warns of climate change

Spanish authorities ordered the evacuation of several districts around Toledo, south of Madrid, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited a fire-ravaged area in Guadalajara, northeast of Madrid, where more than 30 villages were evacuated.

"Year after year we clearly see how climate change kills and destroys wealth in our communities," he said. "This isn't politics. It is science, it's about facts."

Italian officials blame 'malicious' arsonists

Around 6,000 firefighters, forest guards and civil protection officials have been deployed across Sicily after fires have raged for days.

Regional president Renato Schifani said about 50 fires were still burning despite the deployment of water-bombing aircraft.

And on mainland of Italy, in Calabria, more than 160 fires have been recorded.

Local officials in Calabria have accused "malicious individuals" of arson, pointing to rags doused in flammable liquid that were tied to the tails of stray cats to spread fires.