Big wildfires hit Greece and France

Two people have died after a wildfire tore through a house in northern Greece. Firefighters have also been tackling several blazes in the centre of the country, where authorities are urging residents in two villages to evacuate. A large wildfire has also been raging across an area of southern France. Authorities have urged residents of two villages in central Greece to evacuate as more than 135 firefighters battle a wildfire, a day after a separate forest fire killed a father and his 12-year-old son. Firefighters on Wednesday, local time, identified a body found inside a home destroyed by the fire the previous day as that of the boy. His father's body was found Tuesday outside the property, which was in a woodland area north-east of the northern city of Thessaloniki. The boy's mother is being treated for burns in a hospital. Wednesday's fire was burning through forest and agricultural land in the central Greek region of Fthiotida, the fire department said. Nineteen water-dropping planes, six helicopters and 135 firefighters backed up by volunteers and special forest fire units were tackling the blaze. At least three other wildfires broke out in Greece on Wednesday — one in the northern region of Halkidiki, another on the island of Salamina, near the Greek capital, and a third in southern Greece. All three were quickly contained, the fire department said. While Greece suffers frequent wildfires during its hot, dry summers, it has so far been spared the heatwaves that have scorched much of western Europe in recent weeks. Scientists have said the heatwave, which began on June 20, was the worst recorded in Europe, and the blistering conditions disrupted power generation, damaged infrastructure and overwhelmed healthcare systems. Wildfires also break out across southern France Emergency services were also tackling a large wildfire in the south-east of France on Wednesday. Hundreds of firefighters were mobilised to battle the blaze in the Herault and Aude departments, close to the border with Spain, fuelled by drought and strong winds. Water-dumping aircraft were being used. Temperatures of around 30C combined with strong wind gusts drove the spread of the fire through low, very dry vegetation. About 200 people were evacuated or confined in the villages of Pouzols‑Minervois and Mailhac, officials said.