Wildfire of 'exceptional scale' breaks out in forest near Paris

A significant wildfire, described as "very virulent" and of "exceptional scale," is raging in the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris. The blaze, which began Sunday, has scorched over 800 hectares and prompted evacuations and highway closures. Firefighters are battling the flames amid a severe heatwave gripping Western Europe, with scientists attributing such events to climate change.

More than 400 firefighters, supported by waterbombing planes and helicopters, are working to contain the fire. The A6 highway, a major route connecting Paris to the south, has been closed, and high-speed train services have been disrupted. The Canadair planes are scooping water from the river Seine, a measure typically seen in southern France.

This incident occurs as Western Europe experiences its third prolonged heatwave this summer, with record temperatures likely contributing to thousands of excess deaths in late June. Similar wildfires have affected France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, with a blaze in Spain's Almeria province resulting in 13 deaths. The total area consumed by forest fires in France this year is expected to reach 25,000 hectares, double the amount for the same period last year.