Record wildfires are spreading across southern Europe, as rising temperatures and repeated heat waves combine to drive the flames, according to reporting. The scale of the fires this season has stood out even in a region used to summer blazes, with several countries now battling flames at the same time.
Much of the pressure is being felt in France. According to the account, parts of the country are again topping 100 degrees as the third heat wave of the summer brings dangerously high temperatures across the region, creating conditions in which fires can start and spread quickly.
The impact on the ground has been measured against past years. According to the reporting, the fires in southern France are burning at double the seasonal average, an indication of how far beyond the norm this year's fire activity has moved as the heat persists.
The response has required a large mobilisation of personnel. According to the account, 850 firefighters from around the country are now battling the flames in the hardest-hit areas, working to bring the most dangerous fires under control as the conditions remain difficult.
France is not the only country under strain. According to the reporting, in Portugal hundreds of firefighters are tackling a fire that has burned through nearly 2,500 acres since last week, part of the wider picture of blazes affecting several countries across the south of the continent.
Officials have underlined just how serious the threat has become. According to the account, authorities in France are describing the current fire danger as a situation of unprecedented scale, a warning that reflects the combination of extreme heat and dry conditions feeding the fires.
The fires have already carried a human cost. According to the reporting, one volunteer has been killed, and water bombers and helicopters are now being used to fight the flames as thousands of residents are forced to flee their homes, underlining the danger facing both those tackling the fires and the communities in their path.
There is little immediate relief in the forecast. According to the reporting, the current heat wave in Europe is expected to last almost two weeks, meaning the conditions driving the wildfires could persist for some time as firefighters continue their work across the region.