People have been evacuated from the path of wildfires in Europe. The heat wave in southern Europe has raised the temperature in many places above 40 degrees Celsius and broken local records.
An exceptional heat wave has caused extensive wildfires in southern Europe and Switzerland.
In Greece, three large wildfires are spreading around Athens for the second day. In the south of the city, thousands of evacuated residents have already been able to return to their homes, while in the west and north, fires are still burning out of control.
At least one of the wildfires in Greece is suspected to have been set on purpose.
In Spain, 400 rescuers have tried to put out the wildfire that has been raging for the fourth day in La Palma in the Canary Islands. According to the authorities, the fire has been brought under control, but it has not been extinguished.
In Switzerland, the authorities have evacuated four villages in the canton of Valais due to a forest fire spreading in the mountains. About 200 rescuers, police and soldiers have been involved in the extinguishing work.
The heat wave in southern Europe has raised the temperature in many places above 40 degrees Celsius and broken local records. The heat is dangerous, especially for the elderly. Cypriot authorities have confirmed that a 90-year-old man died of heat stroke.
The heat wave has been intensified by human-caused climate change. The summer has also been exceptionally hot in North America, Asia and North Africa. June was the hottest on record in the entire planet.
Sources: AP, Reuters.