As France battles the heatwave gripping Europe, alarm levels are rising across the country. The French meteorological service Meteo-France declared a 'red' alert, the highest level, in 9 regions in the west of the country due to the extreme heat. Additionally, an 'orange' warning was issued for 72 regions.
According to Meteo-France's forecasts, the number of regions under red alert will rise to 24 starting tomorrow. While temperatures in the capital Paris are expected to exceed 35 degrees, the natural fire risk in 64 regions was reported as 'high' or 'very high'.
Fires in the north remain uncontained
In the town of Trevillach in the Eastern Pyrenees region in the south of the country, a forest fire that has been burning for several days has destroyed more than 5,000 hectares. Eastern Pyrenees Prefect Pierre Rene de la Mot announced that the fire has not yet been fully brought under control, but that firefighting efforts are making progress.
It was stated that residents of 14 settlements evacuated due to the Trevillach fire can return to their homes. While the fire in the Drome region remains out of control, the fire in the Indre region, which lasted about three days and destroyed nearly a thousand hectares of farmland, was completely extinguished by fire crews.
25,000 hectares burned since the start of the year
Julien Marion, Director General of France's Civil Security and Crisis Management, announced that more than 8,000 fires have been recorded in the country since the start of the year. Marion said that some fires are still not extinguished and that the total burned area has reached approximately 25,000 hectares.
Stressing that this figure is twice as high as the same period last year, Marion stated that authorities are continuing to fight the fires.
