Wildfires: The ominous ‘fire clouds’ or ‘pyrocumulonimbus’ seen in France for the first time
French firefighters are grappling for the first time with immense fire clouds, known as pyrocumulonimbus clouds, created by extreme wildfires, as they struggle to bring a forest inferno in southwest France under control. French wildfire researcher Jean-Baptiste Filippi says the phenomenon is…
Israel-Lebanon Conflict: Amid displacement, Lebanese cling to ‘hope of returning home to rebuild’
Jean-Emile Jammine is pleased to welcome Christopher Rassi, IFRC Chief of Staff and Under Secretary General for People and Strategy. He offers a rare on-the-ground perspective from southern Lebanon, to reveal the harrowing realities of the humanitarian crisis. He presents…
Blaze battle rages in France as wildfire stable but not contained
French firefighters continued to battle wildfires in the country’s southwest on Monday (July 27) as many hoped favourable weather conditions could ease the blazes that have scorched through more than 40,000 hectares of land. About 220,000 people, including tourists and…
‘I spent the night coughing’: Wildfire smoke leaves Bordeaux residents struggling to breathe
A dense blanket of smoke has hung over Bordeaux since last Friday as a massive wildfire burns its way through southwestern France. As the flames creep closer to the city, FRANCE 24 met residents stunned by the scale of the…
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted drones from Iraq as Houthis target oil sites
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones launched by Iran-backed militias from Iraq targeting oil facilities and Riyadh on Monday, while Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed separate drone strikes on the kingdom’s oil infrastructure. The attacks mark a renewed escalation involving Saudi…
Spain races to contain blazes before new heatwave
Spain has two crucial days in front of it to bring wildfires under control before weather conditions worsen, authorities said Monday, as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on citizens to “exercise extreme caution” ahead of a new heatwave. FRANCE 24’s…
Raging wildfires force evacuation of over 220,000 in southwestern France
Raging wildfires have forced the evacuation of over 220,000 people from the Gironde department in southwestern France as the devastating flames continue to spread. Thousands of evacuees are now packed into emergency shelters, with no timeline given as to when…
France’s interior minister says monster wildfire has stopped growing
France’s interior minister said Monday that a monster wildfire has stopped growing after forcing 220,000 people out of their homes in the country’s southwest but cautioned that it isn’t yet beaten. He spoke after French President Emmanuel Macron held a…
France wildfire: Local economy faces huge rebuilding and reforestation bill
While the focus still remains containing the forest fires blazing through the Gironde department, the challenge of rebuilding and replanting has already begun. And it is likely to be a costly one coming in, according to the government, at between…