Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAlex CroftFriday 24 July 2026 00:01 BSTWildfires sweep southern Europe forcing thousands from their homesSouthern Europe is enduring another extreme heatwave, with temperatures surpassing 40C, triggering widespread wildfires across Sicily, Spain, France and Greece.Tens of thousands have been evacuated, including over 20,000 near Bordeaux, France, where two firefighters died battling blazes, and train services in Spain have been disrupted.Sicily has been severely affected by vast infernos, causing blackouts in Palermo, leading to the death of a firefighter, and destroying olive groves, with residents aiding emergency efforts.Spain has recorded over 100,000 hectares burned this year, with authorities issuing "extraordinary danger" warnings as temperatures reach up to 44C in some regions.The increasing frequency and intensity of these wildfires and heatwaves are attributed by scientists to climate change, which is exacerbating extreme weather conditions across the continent.In fullMore than 20,000 evacuated as southern Europe ravaged by huge wildfires amid scorching 44C heatwaveMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in