Europe faces record-breaking heatwave with ongoing wildfires and severe drought
Europe continues to experience an extreme heatwave, leading to widespread wildfires and unprecedented drought conditions. In Greece, fires near Athens have been raging for four days, prompting new evacuations despite a decrease in wind speeds. Firefighters are battling resurgent blazes, particularly in the Megara area, where the fire is approaching an industrial zone and constantly changing direction. Authorities have ordered further evacuations in localities such as Louba, Morfeika, and Ano Alepochori, directing residents towards Megara. Meanwhile, in France, firefighters are working to contain fires in the Var and Gironde regions, as well as near Carcassonne. While the situation in Gironde has improved, allowing residents of Le Porge to return home after 183 out of 240 houses were destroyed, the Var fire, which started on Friday, remains uncontained. Officials are maintaining extreme vigilance due to potential wind-fueled reactivations, though no new evacuations were necessary on Monday, signaling a stabilization. Beyond the fires, England and Wales have recorded their driest July since 1836, with only 6.5 millimeters of rain in England and 9.3 millimeters in Wales, representing just 10% and 9% of the seasonal average, respectively. This record drought, combined with exceptional heat and sunshine, has significantly impacted agriculture. Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union, noted that the harvest is already complete in early August, a situation he describe
