Wildfires in southern Europe have displaced over 250,000 people, with one reported death in Manises, Spain. The blazes have affected both France and Spain, with the French military deploying a cargo plane to dump flame retardants on the fires.
France Battles Raging Wildfires
In France, the giant A400M transporter was used to drop tons of flame retardants on the drought-hit woodlands in the southwest. The fires have forced the truncation of the final stage of the Tour de France to redeploy security personnel to the affected areas.
The French government has mobilized soldiers to join fire crews, and 1.5 million face masks are being rushed in to protect against choking smoke. Authorities have ordered evacuations, including from parts of Bordeaux’s western suburbs and other towns and villages.
International Assistance
Other European nations are providing assistance, with Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, Germany, and Switzerland deploying water-dumping planes and helicopters to the affected areas.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
