‘Heat apocalypse’ warning in western France as thousands flee wildfire

Nearly 25,000 escape blaze sparked by southern European heatwave that has already killed hundreds of people

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Meteorologists have warned of a heat apocalypse" in western France as more than 8,500 further people fled their homes to escape a large wildfire sparked by a searing southern European heatwave that has already caused hundreds of deaths.

Nearly 25,000 people have been forced to abandon homes, holiday rentals and campsites for emergency shelters in the Gironde departement west of Bordeaux, while blazes in Spain, Portugal and Greece have forced thousands more to flee.