Europe wildfires ease in France as Crete still burns

Europe's wildfires eased in parts of France and Spain on Friday, but crews were still fighting dangerous blazes in Greece, Portugal and Turkey as heat and wind kept the risk of new fires high.

In southwestern France, officials said a major wildfire near Bordeaux had been stabilised after burning 42,000 hectares. The prefect of Gironde said the fire was “contained within its perimeter” but still had “persistent active sectors”.

More than half of the 224,000 people evacuated in the area have been able to return home in 12 municipalities. At least 200 homes have been destroyed and two firefighters have been killed.

Ukraine said it had sent 70 rescuers and 15 specialised vehicles to help France fight the fires.

In Greece, firefighters continued battling a wildfire on Crete. Authorities said conditions had improved around Rethymno, but the fire department said the blaze was not yet contained and that many hotspots remained. About 4,500 hectares were scorched on Wednesday and Thursday. Fires were also burning on Paros, Kalymnos and Andros, though the fire service said the situation there was better.

Northern Portugal deployed nearly 800 firefighters to a major blaze in Valpacos that has been burning since Tuesday and has left at least five people lightly injured, civil protection authorities said.

In Turkey, firefighters worked to contain wind-driven wildfires near tourist regions on the Mediterranean coast. Authorities in Balikesir province reported five people injured, and said three villages near Ayvalik had been evacuated along with 720 cattle. Turkey's agriculture minister said 169 fires had started across the country since Wednesday, with 163 under control.

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lifted a state of emergency over a wildfire west of Madrid after officials said there were no longer any active fronts. More than 60,000 people had been evacuated at the worst point, but most have been allowed to return home. A separate fire in Avila has burned 50,000 hectares, making it the biggest in Spain since records began in 1961.

Spain is facing a new heatwave, and officials warned it could reignite fires in the Madrid region. Scientists say the intensity of some of Europe's fires shows the growing risk as climate change dries vegetation and makes emergencies more extreme.