Europe in flames: Wildfires rage as nuclear plants shut down amid record heat

The fallout from a record-breaking heat wave sweeping Europe is widening, with nuclear power plants shutting down and wildfires spreading unchecked. Governments have mobilized all available firefighting resources, yet the blazes remain uncontained and casualties continue to mount.

With western and southern Europe in the grip of historic heat, wildfires broke out across the region Sunday, deepening what has become a summer crisis. According to AFP and other news agencies, a fire erupted in the Fontainebleau forest, about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris. French authorities partially closed the A6 motorway — a major north-south artery — and dispatched two firefighting aircraft to battle the blaze. Two fire helicopters were also sent to the scene, and more than 100 firefighters were deployed to fight the fire.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said at a briefing that wildfires across the country had already burned through 17,000 hectares (170 square kilometers) of land. Nunez added that the total affected area could reach 25,000 hectares once the full assessment is complete.

In the Andalusia region of southern Spain, a major wildfire has claimed multiple lives. Juan Manuel Moreno, the regional president of Andalusia, said casualties as of Sunday stood at 12 dead and 8 injured. About 1,400 people have been evacuated from their homes, and the fire has scorched 66 square kilometers.

Britain has not yet seen wildfires break out, but warnings have emerged that the risk of wildfire there has risen to an unusually high level.

Natural England, the government body responsible for protecting and improving the natural environment in England, announced that wildfire risk in southern England and the Midlands had climbed to the highest rating of "exceptional." Most of the rest of England and Wales is also expected to remain at a very high level of wildfire risk.

The heat wave blanketing Europe has even affected the Tour de France — a cycling race that has never been canceled except during wartime. The Tour de France organizing committee announced it had shortened the day's route by about 30 kilometers after temperatures along the course approached 40 degrees Celsius.

France has also shut down three nuclear power plants because of the heat. Three nuclear plants have been taken offline. According to the French daily Le Parisien, state utility EDF halted operations at three nuclear plants and reduced output at eight others due to the heat wave.

The shutdowns were triggered by abnormally high cooling water temperatures caused by the heat. Under French safety regulations, each nuclear plant must keep the temperature of water discharged after use as coolant — drawn from nearby rivers — below a set threshold.