Wildfires in Europe

Wildfires continue to burn across the continent. Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Greek island of Crete, as well as in western France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

A blaze in central Spain has burned almost 80,000 hectares over the last week and is now considered the largest recorded wildfire in Spanish history.

With temperatures hitting more than 40 degrees Celsius in south-western France, firefighters, planes and helicopters have been battling fires there.

Muriele in France and Julian in Spain share their experiences of escaping the flames. Robin – on holiday with his family – describes what it was like as the fire approached their French campsite.

“The pool was getting filled up with ash, you could see all black pine needles, bits of bark that were burnt, it blocked out the sun,” Robin tells us. “It was almost like you imagine from a film, the beginning of the end of the world.”

We also bring together volunteers in France, helping to provide food and shelter for people displaced from their homes.

Presenter: James Reynolds
BBC producer: Iqra Farooq, Isabella Bull and Ben Davis
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Harriet Oliver
A Boffin Media production in partnership with the BBC World Service Outside Source team

(Photo: A firefighter battles flames in Valpacos, Portugal. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)