Extreme heat sweeping across Europe has triggered multiple wildfires in France, Greece and Spain as Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Germany record new all-time temperature highs, with Paris emergency services recording several heat-related deaths.
Paris emergency medical services recorded 109 deaths within 24 hours on Friday as France’s prolonged heat wave continued to strain the country’s healthcare system, local media reported on Saturday.
The deaths occurred during interventions by the emergency medical service at patients’ homes and in public places, compared with an average of seven deaths during the same period of the year, Franceinfo reported.
The figures did not include deaths linked to extreme heat in hospitals.
At least 74 people have also drowned in France amid a severe heatwave since June 18, the interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said in an interview with Le Parisien.
Most of the deaths occurred “in unauthorised, unsupervised bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and ponds”, he said, adding that there had also been drownings in private swimming pools.
Wildfires
In southeastern France, a wildfire broke out in the commune of Colomars near Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes department, burning about 2 hectares (5 acres) and threatening around 10 homes before firefighters brought it under control, France 3 reported.
The Departmental Fire and Rescue Service said 90 firefighters, 30 vehicles and a water-bombing helicopter were deployed, carrying out four aerial water drops. Firefighters later said no visible flames remained.
In Greece, firefighters brought a wildfire near Petra in the Boeotia region under control after it prompted an emergency 112 evacuation alert for residents, the state-run AMNA news agency reported.
The fire broke out in an agricultural and forested area. Authorities deployed 45 firefighters, two ground teams, 13 fire engines, six aircraft and one helicopter, according to AMNA.
In northeastern Spain, firefighters continued operations to secure a major wildfire between Tamarite de Litera and Alcampell in Huesca province that has burnt more than 4,000 hectares since Thursday, according to public broadcaster RTVE.
