Europe Heatwave Fuels Wildfires, Burning Area Twice the Size of Manhattan

Hundreds of firefighters battled forest fires in France, Spain, and Portugal on Sunday as temperatures climbed again across a Europe already scarred by heatwaves. The latest wildfires have destroyed more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of land across the three countries. That area is twice the size of Manhattan. In some places, temperatures were predicted to reach 40°C on Sunday. Authorities reported thousands of excess deaths during one of Europe’s worst heatwaves in June. With more extreme weather expected, officials warn that conditions could worsen.