10,000+ reported Dead In Back to Back European Heatwaves
Toxic Canadian Wildfire Smoke Returns
10,000 evacuated In French wildfire emergencies
At least 10,000 people were evacuated as wildfires raged in southern France as the region battles massive forest fires. Among those who have been evacuated are believed to be thousands of tourists including people who were staying in campsites..
On July 11, firefighting choppers and other equipment was diverted to dangerous fires near Paris, an unusual step considering the situation in the south. The fire in the Fontainebleau Forest southeast of Paris forced the evacuation of approximately 1,000 residents, disrupting transportation and drawing hundreds of firefighters into an around-the-clock effort to contain the advancing flames.
Approximately 32,000 hectares have burned across France during 2026.
Canadian Wildfire 2.0: Toxic Smoke Envelops US Midwest and East Coast
Mandatory evacuations
More than 830 wildfires were burning mid July in Canada, along with more than a dozen in northern Minnesota. The conflagration is growing (July 15) with no containment. , near the border, growing with little or no containment and forcing mandatory evacuations. Massive quantities of poison smoke are blowing into the Midwest and Northeast.
Some of the largest wildfires are burning in heavy forests in central Ontario, and those fires are burning through thick forests, spewing even more smoke than previous fires. It escapes many that smoke from these fires is very toxic, with effects that many manifest many years later.
Germany estimates 5000 heat-related deaths
According to a report published on July 9 by the Robert Koch Institute, which oversees public health in Germany, over 5000 deaths are linked to high temperatures in the nation.
The heatwave that swept across Europe at the end of June proved even deadlier in Germany than in France. Although it arrived later, it reportedly caused around 5,100 deaths in Germany; 4,310 of those occurred during the single week of June 22-28 – the hottest week in the country of all time. Of the 5,100 people who died, 4,270 were over the age of 75.
The actual number of deaths is likely to be considerably higher.
Second heatwave smothers large swaths of USA
Large swathes of the US and Canada are facing yet another heatwave bringing extreme temperatures and poor air quality.
Toronto and other Canadian cities as well as parts of the US Midwest and Northeast will see the high temperatures that started on Tuesday continue into Wednesday. Further west in the US, millions of Americans already braved the heat.
Millions of people are under advisories in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and as far west as Buffalo, New York, through Wednesday.
The high temperatures come not long after a record-breaking 4 July heatwave hit large portions of the US, leading experts to warn people to exercise caution.
A strong area of high pressure in the upper levels of the atmosphere is building eastwards across the US and parts of Canada.
This dome of hot and humid air has already led to all-time temperature records being broken in parts of Montana and Utah, and now the heat is shifting eastwards.
Heat Wave and Drought Threatens Critical Rhine River Shipping Chokepoint
The Rhine River’s water levels are a near record lows for mid-summer, the worst in several decades. In particular, levels are the critical critical Kaub chokepoint are already beginning to impact shipping of fuel and other essentials. The situation is developing as Europe struggles with intense back to back heat waves and drought.
Heatwaves and drought have sent water levels on Germany’s Rhine river plunging to multi-year lows, driving up freight costs on the world’s busiest inland shipping route.
The Rhine’s depth dropped as low as 53cm measured at the critical passage chokepoint near Frankfurt, marking the lowest July reading in decades. After the record lows of 2018, there was a similar crisis in 2022. Levels also dropped sharply at this time last year. The Rhine is fed by snow melting in the Alps and replenishing the river’s source at Lake Constance on the Swiss-German border. But snow coverage was patchy this past winter.
12 dead in horrendous Spanish wildfires
Described by a BBS reporters as “a sea of black,” the village of Bédar, in southern Spain’s Almería province has been virtually razed to the ground by a massive wildfire
The blaze spread rapidly through the region in early July. Hundreds of firefighters have fought the fires, which have claimed the lives of 12 people.
Wildfires have burned through 6,600 hectares (16,300 acres) in the province. France, Portugal and Spain. have seen devastation early this summer by a sustained heatwave with temperatures of around 104°F (40C) .
Wildfires cause major damage to Moroccan oases
Moroccan authorities continued Saturday to battle a wildfire that has swept through the Afous oasis in southeastern Errachidia province, damaging vast areas of palm groves as firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control without reported casualties.
A local official told Anadolu on condition of anonymity that crews were still working to contain the fire, which broke out Friday. The extent of damage to the oasis area has yet to be fully determined, he added.
The operation comes as Morocco faces an elevated wildfire threat amid a severe heat wave and exceptionally dry conditions.
Authorities earlier urged residents living near forests in 12 provinces to remain vigilant until July 12 after the National Agency for Water and Forests issued extreme fire-risk warnings.
The agency placed forested areas in 12 of Morocco’s 75 provinces under its highest red alert level, indicating an extreme likelihood of wildfires. Orange alerts signal a high risk and require increased precautions.
