Wildfires raged across parts of Europe on Tuesday as millions of people across the continent struggled to adapt to a new reality: record-breaking summer heatwaves.
Temperatures in parts of Europe have reached more than 40°C, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, and the continent is warming faster than any other, at twice the global average since the 1980s.
Last year was the hottest year on record in both Europe and the world, according to the monitoring agency.
Scientists warn that climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and droughts, making some parts of Europe more vulnerable to wildfires.
Burning fossil fuels such as gasoline, oil and coal produces greenhouse gases, which are the main cause of climate change.
Firefighters have largely contained a blaze that broke out Monday evening in the Madrid area, authorities said, leaving one man with burns over 98% of his body, emergency services said.
In other areas, such as Castilla y Leon, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and Galicia, firefighters and almost 1,000 troops battled the blaze. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes and hotels, including beachgoers in southern Spain.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
