Kathmandu. The effects of the heatwave in Europe are now clearly visible in France. In the south of France, many forests and fires have broken out in the surrounding areas.
The fires are spreading rapidly due to strong winds and prolonged drought. About 2,000 firefighters, helicopters and firefighting aircraft have been deployed to control the situation. People have been evacuated from many areas to safer places.
Dry land and strong winds are scorching forest fires on the Mediterranean coast of southern France. Thick smoke billowed into the sky in many places and the fires began to spread to residential areas.
The fires have spread most rapidly in Cannes-en-Roussillon, near the Spanish border. Yachts parked at the marina and many warehouses have been destroyed by the fire. Authorities have evacuated about 1,500 people from the campsites as a precautionary measure. The nearby Perpignan airport has been temporarily closed.
Around 2,000 firefighters are currently involved in the rescue and relief efforts in France. In Cannes-en-Russillon alone, 4 helicopters have been deployed to fight the fires. 3 Canadian firefighters are on standby.
Two fires have been brought under control on the outskirts of Marseille, France’s second-largest city. However, the massive bushfires in the Oude region are still a challenge. About 700 firefighters are working continuously. However, winds up to 70 kilometres per hour are hampering rescue efforts.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said more than 8,700 hectares of land in the country had been burned so far this year. Of this, 1,200 hectares of land is burning. According to local officials, the fire has spread to the industrial area. Where many factories store flammable and polluting materials. Therefore, there is an increasing precaution.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned last week that prolonged extreme heat, low humidity and dry vegetation increase the risk of forest fires and their rapid spread. The French weather agency also predicts another severe heatwave next week. This increases the risk of forest fires.
Health officials estimate that as many as 1,000 more people may have died in France during a record heat wave in late June. The bushfires in France show that the effects of extreme heat are not limited to rising temperatures. When dry land, low humidity and strong winds come together, the risk of wildfires increases exponentially. Rescue and relief operations continue in France amid the latest weather warnings. –Agency
