Europe Battles Early Heatwave as Wildfires Rage in Turkey and France

Firefighters in Turkey and France grappled with raging wildfires on Monday, fueled by an unusually early heatwave that has hit Europe with full force. Turkey's western Izmir province saw intense fires for a second consecutive day, with strong winds exacerbating the inferno, forcing evacuations in four villages and two town neighborhoods, according to Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli. This situation is part of a worrying trend in Turkey's coastal regions, where human-induced climate change has led to hotter, drier summers.

Meanwhile, in France, wildfires erupted in the southwestern Aude department, scorching 400 hectares and prompting the evacuation of a campsite and an abbey. As the heatwave continues, Meteo France has placed 84 of the country's 101 departments under an orange heatwave alert. Temperatures in Spain, Italy, and even the Netherlands are forecasted to rise sharply, raising the alarm for public health and safety.

In Germany, authorities have urged consumers to conserve water amid heat warnings, with the heatwave adversely affecting water levels in the Rhine River, impacting shipping and increasing freight costs. The ongoing high temperatures are a stark reminder of climate change, as scientists underline that the burning of fossil fuels is a major driver. Globally, extreme heat is now responsible for more deaths annually than floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes combined, adding unprecedented pressure to infrastructure and public health systems.

(With inputs from agencies.)