The pilot of a firefighting plane died when his plane crashed while on an operation in Portugal to contain a huge wildfire that raced across pine forests in the Bordeaux region for a fifth straight day.
This photo provided Friday July 15, 2022 by the fire brigade of the Gironde region shows a wildfire near Landiras, southwestern France, Thursday, July 14, 2022. Several hundred firefighters struggled Friday to contain two wildfires in the Bordeaux region of southwest France that have forced the evacuation of 10,000 people and ravaged more than 7,000 hectares of land.
As the worst French fire moved closer to inhabited towns, some of the 11,000 people who evacuated in the region described fear and uncertainty about what they’d find when they get back home. Images shared by firefighters showed flames shooting across a mass of pine trees and black smoke stretching across the horizon.
French firefighters managed to contain one of the worst fires overnight, near the Atlantic coast resort of Arcachon that is popular with tourists, the regional emergency service said Saturday. But it said “tough meteorological conditions” thwarted efforts to contain the biggest fire in the region, which started in the town of Landiras, south of a valley of Bordeaux vineyards. Regional prosecutors suspect arson.
In southern Andalusia, 3,000 people were evacuated from villages in danger from a blaze that started near the village of Mijas in the province of Malaga. Around 200 firefighters supported by 18 aircraft tried to contain the fire. Authorities were investigating its cause. Portuguese authorities said a July national record high of 47 C hit the northern town of Pinhao on Wednesday.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Waterbomber pilot dies fighting Portugal wildfireA pilot died on Friday when his waterbomber aircraft crashed as it fought a wildfire raging in the northern Portuguese municipality of Torre de Moncorvo, authorities said.
Read more »
As Europe bakes in heatwave, wildfires rage from Portugal to CroatiaWildfires raged across tinder-dry country in Portugal, Spain, France and Croatia on Thursday, burning homes and threatening livelihoods, as much of Europe baked in a heatwave that has pushed temperatures into the mid-40Cs in some parts.
Read more »
Western Europe ravaged by wildfires as hundreds reported dead from heat waveExtreme heat throughout Europe has sparked wildfires in France, Portugal and Spain, prompting mass evacuations.
Read more »
Wildfires raging across Europe 'aggravated' by climate change, EU report warnsFires have forced thousands of people in France, Spain, Portugal and Croatia to flee their homes.
Read more »
Colorado starts rolling out wildfire prevention grants spurred by 2020’s devastating blazesThe Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program is aimed at preventing “minor fires from becoming major fires,” Gov. Jared Polis said at the event about state mitigation efforts.
Read more »
Fires ravage French forests and other parts of Europe in the middle of a heat wave'We are living through an exceptionally harsh (summer) season,' French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday. The number of French forests burnt in fires this year is already triple those destroyed in 2020, Macron said.
Read more »