Paris, July 18, (dpa/GNA) – Forest fires raging on France’s Atlantic coast, continued to spread on Monday, with large areas to the south of Bordeaux burnt, the local prefecture said, as a blistering heatwave, put communities from Greece to Britain on high alert.
Landiras to the south-east of Bordeaux and Teste-de-Buch directly on the coast to the south-west were among the areas badly affected.
A further 3,500 people had been evacuated, Vincent Ferrier, a local official, said. Since the fires broke out on Tuesday, more than 16,000 people have had to leave their homes.
The weather in the region continued to be hot, with temperatures predicted to top 44 degrees Celsius in the Gironde Department on Monday. A red alert has been declared for the department and 14 others in western France.
Meanwhile, the wildfire on the Greek island of Crete that erupted on Friday and forced the evacuation of several villages was under control, but not yet extinguished as of Monday, authorities said.
Some 120 firefighters continued to battle the blaze, the daily Kathimerini reported.
The risk of wildfires is considered “very high” across swathes of Greece, including the islands of Euboea, Samos and Lesbos, as well as in the Peloponnese Peninsula and in the Athens area.
The Croatian authorities on the peninsula of Istria, issued a directive on Monday, banning the use of drinking water to wash cars, streets and other public areas, along with the watering of private or public green areas.
Showering with potable water on beaches and at swimming pools is also banned. One exception is the cleaning of food markets.
Violations of the water-saving regulation can be punished by turning off the municipal water supply to the offender, according to local media.
The provincial government of Istria cited the ongoing drought as well as weather forecasts, that show no precipitation in the foreseeable future.
Extreme heat warnings went into effect in Britain. The red level alert is set to last Monday and Tuesday when temperatures could hit a record-breaking 40 degrees or more.
Residents across swathes of England have been told to stay indoors during the height of the day, while train operators have told people to avoid using their services, due to the impact the extreme temperatures are expected to have on rail infrastructure.
Parts of Germany are expected to hit 40 degrees on Tuesday, but otherwise, the current heatwave searing the continent will largely pass the country by.
GNA