Western Europe sees hottest June and July on record

Western Europe has endured its hottest June and July on record, with back-to-back heatwaves fuelling unprecedented wildfires, mass evacuations, and severe drought across the region. Temperatures repeatedly exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in France, Spain, and Italy, while the UK experienced its driest July since records began in 1836.

In France, the Gironde region near Bordeaux was the epicentre of devastation. Fires described as the worst since World War Two consumed more than 98,000 hectares, an area four times the size of Paris. The military was mobilised, and over 270,000 people were forced to leave their homes, many fleeing with little warning. One American tourist trapped in Biscarrosse reported sleeping through the evacuation and finding the main roads on fire. Residents returning to what remained of their houses described scenes of total desolation.

Spain declared a national emergency as two major wildfires threatened the capital Madrid and the western province of Avila. More than 60,000 people were displaced, and another 20,000 were ordered to stay indoors as flames edged towards the city. The prime minister called for a state agreement against what he termed the climate emergency, warning that science told him temperatures would become more intense and have a greater impact on people's lives. EU member states sent water-bombing aircraft and ground crews, but officials admitted the fires were beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain.

Italy also suffered severe blazes, particularly in Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia, with over 100 localised fires and 10 major wildfires. At least one firefighter was killed. Across the region, more than a quarter of a million people were evacuated in total.

Greece became the next front line. Gale-force winds fanned flames west of Athens, forcing the evacuation of the coastal village of Porto Germeno. On Sunday, two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air while tackling the blaze, killing a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service coordinator. A British pilot and another Greek crew member survived. The Greek prime minister expressed deep sorrow and warned of extremely difficult days ahead. The wind later eased, allowing water-bombing aircraft to resume operations, but hundreds of firefighters continued to battle multiple fronts.

The heatwave also triggered a severe drought across central and eastern Europe. The Danube River fell to its lowest level in 30 years, forcing Hungary to partially shut down its only nuclear power plant, which generates half the country's electricity, because there was not enough water for cooling. Romania declared a state of emergency and the navy blasted rocks to divert water to its own nuclear plant. Ford and Dacia halted production to save power. The Rhine in Germany and the Netherlands also dropped to record low levels, threatening shipping and trade.

In the UK, July was the driest month on record for England and Wales. Amber heat health alerts covered much of England, and the UK Health Security Agency estimated that the June heatwave alone contributed to roughly 2,000 excess deaths. Wildfires broke out in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, on the Suffolk coast, and in South Wales. Water companies imposed hosepipe bans in 11 areas, and reservoirs fell to notably low levels.

The extreme conditions were not confined to Europe. South Korea recorded its highest ever temperature, 42.5 degrees Celsius in Yangsan, and Japan reported more than 52,000 hospitalisations for heat stroke, with 79 deaths. Three lions died at a Tokyo zoo due to the heat. Scientists attributed the compounding extremes to climate change, noting that Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average.