Deer trapped by walls of flame, lizards unable to escape the heat, habitats reduced to charred wood and ash: wildlife is paying a steep price as France's forests burn.
President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged firefighters battling a huge blaze in southwest France to keep up their strength for some gruelling weeks ahead.
Shelters in France and Spain on Monday overflowed with exhausted locals and holidaymakers forced to flee blazes so massive some were forming their own mini weather systems, as authorities warned a new heatwave was set to descend on parts of the region.
French authorities said Sunday that more than 220,000 people have been evacuated from the wildfire raging near Bordeaux that has seen the deployment of a military plane.
European holidaymakers worn down by recurrent heatwaves are currently snubbing Mediterranean destinations for northern climes in hopes of cooler temperatures, but it remains to be seen whether it is just a fad or a durable shift in the tourism market.
What dangers does smoke from wildfires pose? Who is most at risk? Here are some answers to health questions often asked, especially now with large wildfires raging in France and Spain.
Wildfires are frightening enough without the added challenge of trying to understand emergency information in another language. Whether you're following evacuation orders, listening to local radio or reading official updates, here's the essential French vocabulary to help you stay informed.
With wildfires becoming more common and more extensive due to hot, dry summers, there are several apps, websites and alert systems that allow you to check the latest information in each part of France.
France recorded 5,764 more deaths than usual during a record-breaking heatwave last month, health authorities said on Wednesday, describing the excess mortality among people aged 15 and older as "unprecedented".
A fast-moving wildfire erupted on Tuesday evening in southern France, forcing hundreds from their homes as nearly 1,000 firefighters and water-bombing aircraft battled to stop the blaze.
Most of France has emerged from its third heatwave in just two months, with temperatures finally easing across most of the country - so what's in store for the weeks ahead?
France has already seen dozens of wildfires with a total of 25,000 hectares burned, among them one small commune in the French Alps - we spoke to local man Dominick Daul about the fire and its aftermath.
When heatwaves strike, Paris is not usually the hottest part of France - but the capital is over-represented when it comes to excess deaths during hot weather. Here's a look at what makes heat so dangerous in Paris.
As heatwaves intensify across France, a growing number of holidaymakers are turning to Brittany - long associated with rain and cooler temperatures, the region is increasingly being seen as a refuge from extreme heat. But in reality, it's not that simple.
At least 12,000 excess deaths were recorded across nine European countries during June's heatwave, national statistics indicated, a toll that could yet rise as more data is released, according to an AFP analysis.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said there would be "zero tolerance" for arson after France was hit by wildfires that have scorched thousands of hectares.
A volunteer firefighter who was suspected of starting a fire in France's historic Fontainebleau forest was placed under formal investigation and remanded in custody on Wednesday, a prosecutor said.
The intense heat that has gripped France is beginning to ease, but 46 départements remain on orange alert for either thunderstorms or high temperatures on Thursday.
Hundreds of French firefighters aided by water bombers on Tuesday battled to control wildfires that have ravaged a hugely popular forest outside Paris as another scorching heatwave keeps the capital in its grip.
The Eiffel Tower and other Paris landmarks closed early over the weekend and cycling's Tour de France shortened a stage for the first time in its history, as France sweated through its third heatwave since May.
