Wildfires rage as Spain, Greece and Portugal ‘toxic smoke’ warnings issued

Authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, to remain indoors and shut their windows and doors due to toxic smoke from a burning recycling plant that was engulfed by a wildfire.

Also evacuated was a facility housing 157 people with special needs.

Extremely high temperatures contributed to a surge in excess deaths across several countries, particularly among the elderly, while prolonged drought left soil and vegetation tinder-dry, bringing an earlier and destructive wildfire season.

Hundreds of firefighters battled forest infernos in France, Spain and Portugal on Sunday as temperatures rose again in heatwave-scarred Europe.