Countries across Europe on Saturday battled wildfires amid blistering temperatures and tinder-dry landscapes, with thousands of people evacuated.
A historically hot summer has contributed to the deaths of thousands of people -- and increased the risk of forest fires. Here are the latest developments:
A forest fire in the Landes region of southwest France reignited early Saturday forcing the evacuation of another 100 residents and holidaymakers around the town of Luglon, authorities said.
The fire, which has been burning since Thursday, has now devastated 15.8 square kilometres (six square miles) of forest with some 650 people forced out of their homes, said regional government prefect Gilles Clavreul.
Some 550 firefighters are in the battle against the flames near the eruption of another fire in July that covered 37 square kilometres of land. Clavreul said he had asked the government to send a Chinook water-bombing helicopter that has been sent by Australia to help with France's wildfire crisis.
A wildfire at the Fagnes natural park in eastern Belgium, near the border with Germany, has now ravaged some 16 square kilometres of forest, authorities said. The fire started Friday and spread rapidly through the night.
Firefighter reinforcements from all of Belgium and from Germany have been called in.
In Germany's Eifel region, just across the border from Belgium, some 1,400 firefighters on Saturday battled to contain a major fire that has forced the evacuation of some 1,800 people from Hurtgenwald, a town with population 9,000.
More than 100 firefighters and two water bombing planes battled through the night to contain a major forest fire that broke out on Friday on the Croatian island of Dugi otok, threatening a large number of homes.
Another major fire, which engulfed vineyards and olive groves on the Peljesac peninsula further south, was also brought under control on Friday evening, following a fierce battle involving 240 firefighters and three planes.
Serbian authorities said late Friday they were battling 25 serious forest fires, including one which has devastated 25 square kilometres of land at the Deliblatska national park near Belgrade.
A fire in the northeastern region of Aragon is raging for a sixth day and has affected more than 15,000 hectares, but firemen say they have halted its spread towards population centres and two monasteries, one of which has roots in the 10th century.
Some 1,000 people from 18 different villages and settlements remain evacuated, though weather forecasts call for some welcome light rain and lower temperature.
Firefighters remain on high alert in Greece, where the risk of fire remains very high in several parts of the country due to strong winds.
More than 50 agricultural and forest fires have broken out in the last 24 hours, most of which were brought under control quickly, according to the fire service.
gv
