Wildfires ravage Europe as France arrests nearly 500 over suspect

Europe is grappling with a severe wildfire crisis amid a record-breaking heatwave, with France detaining 474 people since July 1 over suspected links to wildfires and major blazes spreading across Croatia, Germany, Spain, Greece and the United Kingdom. The European Union has described the wildfire situation in parts of the continent as “extreme”, as soaring temperatures, parched ground and strong winds create highly conducive conditions for fires to spread rapidly.

France’s Interior Ministry said 474 people had been detained in connection with wildfires since July 1, including 183 minors, with nearly 70% suspected of deliberately starting fires. In southwestern France, more than 525 residents were evacuated from the village of Luglon on Friday after a new blaze consumed around 1,100 hectares of dry pine forest in less than 24 hours. Nearly 500 firefighters and six water-bombing aircraft were deployed, while roads leading into the village were closed. Germany’s Hürtgen Forest also saw a major blaze approach within several hundred metres of Gei village, prompting more than 2,000 residents to seek shelter. Unexploded wartime ordnance has hampered firefighting efforts, with explosions reportedly heard in the area.

Read More: Two UAE oil tankers attacked in Strait of Hormuz

Elsewhere, wildfires have devastated parts of Croatia, Spain and Greece, forcing evacuations and damaging homes and infrastructure. In northeastern Spain, the remains of three 11th-century Aragonese kings were removed from the San Juan de la Peña monastery as fires approached, while more than 9,000 hectares had burned and residents of 16 communities were evacuated. In Greece, around 500 tourists were evacuated from beaches in Halkidiki, while fires in the UK’s West Midlands destroyed several homes. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to climate change, which is accelerating the drying of soil and water reserves and raising wildfire risks. On Friday, more than 60% of Europe’s population experienced temperatures of at least 30°C, while around 150 million people faced temperatures of 35°C or higher.