Emergency services across southern Europe are battling multiple crises as extreme heat fuels wildfires, industrial fires and pressure on critical infrastructure, stretching resources from Spain to France and Greece. Authorities have issued health alerts, shut down nuclear reactors and deployed firefighters on multiple fronts as soaring temperatures continue to intensify environmental risks across the continent. Toxic Smoke Triggers Emergency in Spain A major emergency response was launched in Spain's Zamora province after a fire erupted at the Zaresa waste treatment plant in Roales del Pan. Emergency operators received nearly 40 calls reporting a dense plume of toxic smoke. Authorities sent ES-Alert warnings instructing nearby residents to stay indoors, while police closed a lane of the A-11 motorway as a precaution. The fire broke out inside a waste treatment warehouse, but officials said no injuries had been reported. Heat Forces French Nuclear Reactors Offline The heatwave is also disrupting France's energy network. State-owned operator EDF shut down three nuclear reactors at the Chooz and Cattenom power stations after reduced river flows threatened cooling operations. EDF said the move was necessary to protect river ecosystems and maintain sufficient water supplies for users in both France and neighbouring Belgium. Yellow heatwave alerts remain in force across the Ardennes and Moselle regions. France relies on its 57 nuclear reactors for around 70% of its electricity generation, making prolonged heat-related shutdowns a significant concern for energy resilience. Greece Faces One of Its Worst Fire Seasons In Greece, authorities continue battling a succession of destructive wildfires that have claimed five lives over the past two weeks. Wildfire meteorologist Theodore Giannaros described the situation as one of the country's worst fire crises in nearly a decade. More than 12,000 hectares of forests and farmland have burned in the past week alone, according to analysis from the European Union's Copernicus Earth observation programme. Climate and Land Management Under Scrutiny Experts say rising temperatures are creating conditions in which fires spread faster and become increasingly difficult to control. But Giannaros warned that climate change is only part of the challenge, arguing that weaknesses in land management have also amplified the scale of the disaster. As emergency crews remain under sustained pressure, the crises unfolding across southern Europe underline how prolonged heatwaves are placing growing strain on public safety, energy systems and environmental resilience. Extreme heat grips southern Europe as Spain sends toxic alerts and France shuts reactors
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