Firefighters struggled to contain the largest wildfire in Spain this year, while two firefighters were killed battling a blaze in southwestern France. Europe remains in the grip of extreme heat, and unstable weather conditions have led to drought and the threat of severe hailstorms, Reuters reports.

The French rescuers who died were fighting the fire near an airport in the Gironde department, where a high wildfire danger level has been declared, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said. This came just two weeks after another firefighter was killed in the Savoie department in the French Alps.

In Spain’s central province of Guadalajara, an uncontrolled wildfire has been raging for the sixth day, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,200 people.

Emergency services are trying to contain the spread of the flames as temperatures exceed 40°C and the fire danger has reached a critical level. It is worth recalling that less than two weeks ago, 13 people died in the most severe wildfire in decades in the Bedar area of the southern province of Almeria.

Europe remains the fastest-warming continent in the world. Many scientists emphasize that human-caused climate change not only increases the intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires, but also creates conditions for sudden destructive storms.

Since the start of this year, the continent has already experienced three waves of abnormal heat, coming almost one after another. High temperatures have also caused thousands of cases of excess mortality between May and June.

Drought in England and hail in the Balkans

In the United Kingdom, Thames Water announced restrictions on water use for 10 million customers in London and surrounding areas. To preserve drinking water supplies, the use of garden hoses, sprinklers, and pressure washers has been banned.

According to the National Drought Group under the UK government, England received only 3% of its long-term average rainfall for July, while the south and east of the country saw no rain at all — the longest dry spell since the mid-1990s.

In southeastern Europe, authorities in Greece advised residents not to go outside unless absolutely necessary, as the country is experiencing its first major heatwave of the summer season, with temperatures up to 40°C.

In central Athens, residents and tourists at the Acropolis tried to shield themselves from the sun with hats and umbrellas, while restaurants and cafes installed misting systems and fans to cool visitors.

According to the Reuters Climate Monitor, the average daytime temperature in Western Europe was 26.3°C, which is 2.7 degrees above the climate norm for July 21 for the 1961–1990 period. In Greece, temperatures exceeded the norm by 5.8 degrees, while in Spain the average maximum reached 33.2°C, which is 5.3 degrees above figures from past decades.

In Albania, residents and tourists are seeking relief at public drinking fountains.

“Today the heat was unbearable — 42 degrees Celsius. Without cold water, it’s simply impossible to survive,” said Tirana resident Ferid Salihu.

In Serbia, the water level in the Danube has fallen to its lowest since 1946. River port authorities reported that barges and vessels have to reduce their loads to pass through the Serbian sections of the Danube and the Sava.

Forecasters and authorities in the Western Balkans warn that instability following the heat will bring severe hailstorms. According to Croatian media reports, several people have already been injured by heavy hail in the northern Adriatic city of Rovinj. Forecasts say the storm front will move further into Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, southern Serbia, and North Macedonia.