Soaring temperatures and wildfires – Europe battles a ‘heat apocalypse’

In parts of France forecasters are calling it a “heat apocalypse”, with thousands of people forced to flee spreading wildfires in the country’s southwest.

Hundreds of deaths have already been blamed on the heat in Spain and Portugal – where temperatures hit a record 47C last week.

Climate scientists say this kind of extreme weather is only going to become more common – and even more intense.