PARIS: A heatwave has forced 150,000 people to evacuate their homes as wildfires rage in southwestern France.
French authorities have ordered a complete evacuation of the tourist resort of Cap Ferret, where 47,000 acres of forest have been ravaged and more than 100 homes have been damaged.
French President Macron has ordered the army to help put out the fires, while a major fire near Madrid has prompted Spain to declare its first-ever state of emergency.
More than 43 homes have also been destroyed in the fire in Spain, according to media reports. 19,000 people have been ordered to evacuate a mountainous area west of Madrid. 2,000 personnel and 10 aircraft are battling the blaze.
It should be noted that due to the severe heat wave in France during June, 5,764 additional deaths were recorded between June 17 and July 2, which is 36% more than usual.
According to the French National Health Agency, 21,674 people died from various causes between June 17 and July 2, under normal circumstances, this number would have been expected to be around 15,910.
