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Hundreds of firefighters are engaged in a desperate battle against raging forest fires in France, Spain, and Portugal as Europe experiences another heatwave. The fires have already consumed more than 17,000 hectares, an area twice the size of Manhattan, across the three nations. Temperatures are forecast to climb as high as 40C in some locations.

This latest outbreak follows one of Europe's worst heatwaves in June, which caused thousands of excess deaths. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has voiced concern that the annual summer wildfire season has begun a month earlier than usual, with more extreme weather anticipated.

In Spain, a fire near the Costa Brava coastline has burned over 2,200 hectares in just two days. Firefighters describe the operation as "complicated" due to rising temperatures and numerous "smoking hotspots" within the fire's perimeter. The Catalan fire service reported that crews worked through the night to secure the perimeter of the La Bisbal d'Empordà forest fire, which is now considered stabilized.

Salvador Illa, president of the Catalan regional government, confirmed that a man has been detained in connection with the fire. The situation remains critical as authorities brace for further extreme weather.

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worked tirelessly throughout the night to consolidate the perimeter of the La Bisbal d’Empordà forest fire, which is now stabilized.