Key facts
- France has arrested 474 individuals, including 183 minors, on suspicion of starting wildfires since July 1.
- About 70% of those arrested in France are suspected of deliberately starting fires.
- Wildfires are affecting multiple European countries, including Germany, Croatia, Spain, Greece, and the UK.
- Scientists link the extreme weather events to climate breakdown, with Europe warming at twice the global average rate.
- Fires in Germany were complicated by unexploded World War II ordnance.
- Croatia reported one of its worst fires in recent years, with injuries and significant material damage.
France has arrested nearly 500 people on suspicion of starting wildfires this summer, with authorities stating that approximately 70% of the detentions are linked to deliberate acts of arson. The arrests come as firefighters across Europe battle intense blazes amid a record-breaking heatwave.
Since July 1, French authorities have detained 474 individuals, including 183 minors, for their alleged involvement in wildfires. Media reports indicate a 15-year-old boy was detained in connection with a fire near Bordeaux airport that resulted in the deaths of two firefighters in July.
In the south-west region of Landes, France, over 525 people were evacuated from the village of Luglon as a new wildfire consumed nearly 1,100 hectares of dry pine forest within 24 hours. Firefighting efforts involve 500 personnel and six water-dumping aircraft, with roads to the village closed.
Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as these wildfires, to climate breakdown, noting that Europe is warming at approximately twice the global average rate. This phenomenon leads to drier soils and waterways, fueling fires and contributing to thousands of excess deaths in France.
Elsewhere in Europe, Germany is contending with a wildfire in the Hürtgen forest that forced over 2,000 people to evacuate their homes. Firefighting efforts are hampered by the presence of unexploded World War II ordnance in the area, leading to detonations and safety concerns.
In Croatia, a wildfire near the tourist town of Lokva Rogoznica on the Dalmatian coast led to the evacuation of about 1,000 people and injured dozens, with seven having life-threatening injuries. The prime minister described the blaze as one of the worst in recent years.
Spain is also battling significant fires, with one in the north-east threatening the San Juan de la Peña monastery and burning over 9,000 hectares, forcing the evacuation of 16 towns. A larger fire in southern Spain has scorched 31,000 hectares and led to the evacuation of 700 people.
In northern Greece, around 500 holidaymakers were evacuated by boat from beaches on the Halkidiki peninsula as a wildfire approached popular resorts. While the fire front was brought under control, crews remain on alert for flare-ups.
The United Kingdom has also experienced severe wildfires, with incidents in the West Midlands destroying several houses, described by a fire chief as one of the most significant events the region's fire service has encountered.