French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Saturday morning that the “megafire” in the Gironde was “contained” and no longer spreading. The fire had destroyed around 42,000 hectares of land. Firefighters spoke of a “mild night” with somewhat more favorable weather conditions.
In southeastern France, in the Var, a fire that had already been brought under control flared up again. It spread quickly and forced nearly 2,500 people to evacuate, as French news channel BFM TV reported.
In Greece, strong winds fanned fires in several areas, including Boeotia, about 80 kilometers northwest of Athens. There, more than 200 people were brought to safety by ship. Emergency warnings were also issued for the Attica region and the island of Euboea.
In Spain, authorities continue to battle fires in León, Zamora, and Castellón. In Castellón, the situation stabilized after nearly 10,000 hectares of land were burned. Authorities are investigating on suspicion of arson after two ignition sources were found.
Source: www.theguardian.com
