Europe battles heatwave wildfires

Thousands evacuated from their homes as heat-related death toll rises

Firefighter in Louchats, south-western France
(Image credit: Thibaud Moritz/AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of people across Europe have been forced to evacuate their homes after a series of wildfires quickly spread in Spain, Portugal and France in the past week.

Julia O'Driscoll is the engagement editor. She covers UK and world news, as well as writing lifestyle and travel features. She regularly appears on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast, and hosted The Week's short-form documentary podcast, “The Overview”. Julia was previously the content and social media editor at sustainability consultancy Eco-Age, where she interviewed prominent voices in sustainable fashion and climate movements. She has a master's in liberal arts from Bristol University, and spent a year studying at Charles University in Prague.