Luggage-clad residents and tourists fled a French peninsula by boat, and the smell of smoke drifted into parts of Madrid on July 24 as wildfires swept through parts of Western Europe, triggering states of emergencies and calls for EU help.

The fires come as southern Europe endures another spell of severe heat, with temperatures topping 40C in some areas.

Wildfires fanned by scorching temperatures and strong winds swept through parts of Italy, France and Spain on Thursday, forcing thousands of people to flee as hundreds of…