Ferocious flames continue to rage in parts of France and Spain, with no sign of abating. We chart the destruction in graphics and pictures T he hellish infernos that have torn through parts of France and Spain have caused deaths, the evacuation of 330,000 people from their homes, widespread destruction and clouds of toxic smoke. Records have already been smashed and with the fourth heatwave of the European summer setting in, there are few signs of the waves of wildfires ending. France has already surpassed the worst previous year for the size of the area burned, with August, usually the hottest month, yet to come.
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The severity of the fires has been extremely challenging for the fire-fighting authorities, who in the past would have expected to extinguish the fires. The extreme severity of the blazes is the result of โ whiplash โ wet-then-dry weather this year, supercharged by the climate crisis.
