Firefighters battled major wildfires Tuesday that forced tens of thousands to evacuate in France and Spain, as Western Europe faced another looming heat wave.
The fires have torn through a region already battered by a blisteringly hot and dry summer. Crews were seeking to capitalize on more favorable weather before a new wave of higher temperatures settled in from Wednesday.
In the Bordeaux region of France, firefighters contained the forest blaze overnight, while in Spain, authorities allowed people from nine out of 11 towns in the central Toledo province to return to their homes.
However, fires still raged out of control in Madrid and nearby provinces, prompting heightened vigilance.
One Spanish evacuee described a "red hell" of fire, portraying intense scenes as residents fled with little more than clothes on their backs.
