Disaster — EUROPEAN WILDFIRES INTENSIFY; SMOKE REACHES AUSTRIA AS FRANCE, SPAIN BATTLE BLAZES

Massive wildfires continue to rage across France and Spain, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people amid an intense summer heatwave. Smoke plumes from the fires have now reached as far as southern Austria. Firefighters are making some headway in containing the blazes, but another heatwave is forecast, threatening to exacerbate conditions in a region already suffering from prolonged heat and drought.