The fire erupted on Friday near the municipality of La Bisbal d’Emporda, close to the popular Costa Brava tourist region, which typically attracts large numbers of visitors during the summer season. Authorities said no injuries had been reported.

According to Catalonia’s regional fire service, the wildfire has consumed approximately 2,200 hectares (8.5 square miles) of woodland and vegetation. Firefighters said they had succeeded in containing more than two-thirds of the blaze after an intensive overnight operation involving hundreds of emergency personnel.

The regional fire service said crews had stabilized about 70 percent of the fire’s right flank and were focusing on consolidating those gains before changing weather conditions and shifting winds expected later on Saturday could complicate firefighting efforts.

“Our objective now is to consolidate before the winds change,” the fire service said in a statement, highlighting the importance of preventing the flames from spreading into new areas.

Catalonia’s regional emergency services said approximately 150 people were evacuated from a holiday camp as a precaution, including around 70 children. Officials did not indicate when evacuees would be allowed to return.

The wildfire is the latest to affect Spain during the summer fire season, when high temperatures, dry vegetation and strong winds combine to create conditions favorable for rapidly spreading fires.

Spain is among the European countries considered particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Scientists have warned that rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat events, creating conditions that heighten the risk of large and destructive wildfires across the Mediterranean region.

The growing threat has become increasingly evident in recent years as Spain has experienced repeated episodes of prolonged drought and record-breaking summer temperatures, placing additional pressure on forests and emergency response services.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System, wildfires burned nearly 400,000 hectares of land across Spain last year, the highest annual total recorded by the monitoring system for the country. The figures underscored the scale of the wildfire challenge facing Spanish authorities as climate conditions become more severe.

Firefighters remained deployed across the affected area on Saturday, continuing efforts to secure containment lines and prevent renewed flare-ups as weather conditions evolved throughout the day.

Hospitals across England are facing growing operational challenges as prolonged high temperatures disrupt clinical services, strain ageing infrastructure and complicate patient care, with frontline doctors warning that extreme heat is increasing health risks for vulnerable patients while exposing weaknesses in the National Health Service’s preparedness for climate-related events.

Several NHS hospitals have declared critical incidents after high temperatures affected essential equipment, including radiotherapy machines, MRI scanners, cooling systems and information technology infrastructure. Medical staff working across England say unusually hot conditions are also contributing to higher patient admissions, particularly among elderly and medically vulnerable people who struggle to regulate body temperature.

Doctors working in acute medical units report that heat-related illness has become a frequent feature of daily clinical practice. A resident doctor in north-west England said temperatures inside staff offices reached 36 degrees Celsius despite the absence of air conditioning or adequate ventilation. During one ward round, several patients required treatment after developing complications associated with the heat, including falls linked to postural hypotension and cases of pre-renal acute kidney injury caused by dehydration.

According to the doctor, many affected patients required intravenous fluids because existing hospital wards were unable to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. The clinician also noted that some patients taking medications known to increase vulnerability during periods of extreme heat had not received advice on adjusting treatment or hydration during unusually warm weather before being admitted to hospital.

The doctor described an emergency response involving a patient experiencing seizures inside a poorly ventilated treatment room where staff worked under physically demanding conditions. The experience, the clinician said, demonstrated that both healthcare workers and patients are increasingly affected by rising temperatures and highlighted the need for improved planning, stronger clinical guidance and infrastructure capable of coping with more frequent heatwaves.

Consultants working in emergency departments reported that overcrowding has become more difficult to manage during the current heatwave. A consultant in Surrey said corridor care, already a longstanding pressure across parts of the NHS, has become significantly more challenging because of the heat. Limited bed availability has forced hospitals to place patients opposite one another in temporary care spaces, reducing privacy and making confidential medical discussions difficult.

The consultant said emergency teams have been required to perform resuscitation procedures, clinical examinations, blood sampling and catheter insertions in corridors due to space constraints. Such environments, the doctor said, create additional infection control concerns and make it harder to deliver care that meets expected clinical standards.

Older patients have been particularly affected. According to the consultant, some elderly and frail individuals remain in temporary corridor spaces for extended periods while awaiting inpatient beds, with some spending entire nights seated because standard hospital beds are unavailable. The doctor added that several hospitals are now operating multiple designated corridor care areas simultaneously to manage patient demand.

Healthcare professionals working in London also described the practical difficulties of caring for elderly patients during prolonged hot weather. A resident doctor working on a ward for older adults said hospital staff had implemented measures including keeping curtains closed and deploying portable cooling units where available. Despite those efforts, ward temperatures remained uncomfortably high.

The doctor said maintaining adequate hydration among elderly patients had become increasingly difficult because many older people naturally have a reduced ability to regulate body temperature and may struggle to drink sufficient fluids independently. Medical teams have consequently relied more frequently on intravenous fluid therapy to prevent dehydration and its complications.

The clinician also noted that measures intended to reduce indoor temperatures, including closing curtains throughout the day, can unintentionally worsen confusion and delirium among patients with cognitive impairment by limiting exposure to natural daylight.

Doctors working across London reported similar experiences. One consultant said colleagues recorded office temperatures of approximately 35 degrees Celsius while concerns grew over insufficient cooling equipment and limited access to electric fans for vulnerable patients, including those living with dementia or receiving end-of-life care.

The consultant described one ward where an end-of-life patient remained in temperatures of approximately 32 degrees Celsius without access to a fan. The doctor also said maternity services had experienced difficulty maintaining comfortable conditions for women during labour as hospitals struggled to regulate indoor temperatures.

In addition to direct effects on patient care, hospital technology has also been affected by the heat. The consultant reported that computers on wheels, commonly used by clinical staff to access electronic patient records during ward rounds, stopped functioning after overheating, adding further operational challenges during periods of high clinical demand.

Medical staff interviewed across different regions consistently linked the current pressures to broader concerns about climate resilience within healthcare. Several doctors argued that extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and should be regarded as an important public health issue rather than isolated seasonal incidents.

Clinicians also called for greater public awareness regarding the health risks associated with prolonged hot weather, particularly for older adults and people taking medications that may increase dehydration or heat sensitivity. They said clearer clinical guidance, improved patient education and investment in hospital infrastructure could reduce preventable admissions during future heatwaves.

Doctors further stressed the need for healthcare facilities to strengthen resilience through improved ventilation, modern cooling systems and contingency planning designed to protect both patients and staff during periods of extreme temperatures. They said existing hospital buildings, many of which were designed for cooler climatic conditions, are increasingly unable to maintain safe indoor environments during prolonged heat events.

The experiences described by clinicians indicate that rising temperatures are placing additional pressure on emergency departments, inpatient wards and clinical infrastructure at a time when many NHS hospitals are already operating under significant capacity constraints. Healthcare workers say adapting hospitals to withstand more frequent heatwaves will become increasingly important as climate-related health risks continue to affect patient care across England.

The report by UNICEF said it cross-referenced population data of roughly 2.4 billion children with the geographic distribution of eight major climate hazards, including coastal flooding, river flooding, drought, tropical storms, heat waves, extreme heat, wildfires and sandstorms.

It found that around 1.1 billion children are exposed to at least three climate hazards, with the most common combination being drought, extreme heat above 35 degrees Celsius, and heat waves. That specific combination alone affects about 296 million children globally.

The report highlighted that exposure is heavily concentrated in parts of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries with large child populations, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria, account for some of the highest absolute numbers of affected children.

Nigeria alone has about 74 million children exposed to at least three hazards, while Pakistan has 34 million and India 32 million, according to the report.

It also found that nearly all children globally — about 2.3 billion — are exposed to at least one climate hazard, while 2 billion face at least two and 364 million are exposed to four or more.

The report warned that 123,000 children face seven or more climate hazards, including about 46,000 in Myanmar, underscoring extreme exposure in some regions.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said children are “at the forefront of the impact of climate change,” according to the report, which also noted that vulnerability is intensified in countries with limited capacity to respond to disasters.

UNICEF researcher Tom Slaymaker said climate risks are concentrated in “hot spots” in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia, though he added that no country is entirely spared from climate-related threats.

The report noted that in some countries such as Chad, more than 95 percent of children are exposed to at least three climate hazards, driven by compounding risks and weak infrastructure.

It also identified 39 small island states as particularly vulnerable due to limited freshwater resources, import dependence and exposure to extreme weather events, including hurricanes.

As temperatures across India’s capital continue to climb during another summer of extreme heat, the impact is being felt most acutely by those with little protection from the elements. For the hundreds of thousands of people living on Delhi’s streets, daily life unfolds under relentless heat, limited access to essential services and constant uncertainty about safety and survival.

Among them is Shahida, a 20-year-old mother who lives with her family beneath a flyover in Delhi. Their home consists of a section of pavement where they sleep under mosquito nets and store their belongings. Throughout the day and night, they remain exposed to conditions that climate experts say are becoming increasingly dangerous as heatwaves intensify across the region.

Delhi has been experiencing sustained high temperatures, with daytime readings regularly reaching 43 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures have also remained unusually elevated, providing little relief after sunset. According to reported meteorological data, the city recently recorded its warmest May night in nearly 14 years.As authorities issue repeated heat alerts and many residents seek refuge indoors, an estimated 300,000 people living without permanent shelter continue to face direct exposure to extreme temperatures.

Their vulnerability extends beyond heat alone, encompassing challenges related to food security, drinking water, sanitation and healthcare access.Climate researchers say homelessness significantly increases the risks associated with extreme weather.

Chandni Singh, a lead author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, noted that people without stable housing often lack reliable access to basic resources required to cope with prolonged periods of heat.“Beyond exposure alone, homelessness is often accompanied by unreliable access to food, water and healthcare all of which are essential to cope with and adapt to extreme heat,” Singh said.

The consequences can be severe. According to a report by the Centre for Holistic Development, at least 192 homeless individuals died during a nine-day period of extreme heat in Delhi last summer. The deaths highlighted the disproportionate burden borne by vulnerable populations during heatwave conditions.

For Shahida, summer brings anxiety long before temperatures reach their highest levels. Having spent most of her life living in similar circumstances, she said the arrival of hotter months is accompanied by concerns about health, safety and the wellbeing of her young daughter, Jannat.Throughout the day, the family must manage basic needs while exposed to intense heat.

Access to cold drinking water is limited. They rely in part on a nearby public institution that permits them to fill containers during evening hours, allowing them to store water for later use. The supply, however, remains constrained and dependent on availability.The challenge of securing shelter is equally significant.

According to Indu Prakash Singh, a member of a state-level shelter monitoring committee established by India’s Supreme Court, Delhi faces a substantial shortage of accommodation for homeless residents. He estimates that the city’s shelter capacity falls short of demand by approximately 75%, leaving many families with few alternatives to sleeping outdoors.

Although a women’s night shelter operates less than 200 metres from where Shahida’s family sleeps, she said conditions inside often provide little respite from the heat.“It is even hotter inside than outside,” she said.The concern is echoed by shelter advocates. Singh said many facilities consist of portable cabin-style structures that absorb and retain heat during summer months.

In some locations, cooling systems are insufficient or non-functional, reducing their effectiveness during periods of extreme weather.Conditions inside shelters can also become crowded, particularly during heatwaves when more people seek relief. Reports from facilities in Delhi indicate that access to cooling equipment is often limited, leading to competition among residents for the coolest spaces.As evening approaches and temperatures begin to decline slightly, daily routines continue beneath the flyover.

Families prepare simple meals, organize belongings and make arrangements for the night. Shahida’s family reheats rice and curry cooked earlier in the day before setting up sleeping mats on the pavement.The reduction in temperature after sunset offers only partial relief.

Even at night, the heat remains significant, and concerns about security persist. Women living on the streets frequently report remaining alert long after lying down to sleep, aware of potential risks to themselves and their children.Shahida said rest is often difficult to achieve despite physical exhaustion. The combination of environmental stress, uncertainty and responsibility for a young child creates a constant state of vigilance.

“Even when your eyes close, your mind stays awake. I need to be always protective of myself and my child,” she said.Around her, other families settle in for the night under mosquito nets and makeshift shelters. Some fan children in the humid air while others arrange possessions in an effort to create a small sense of privacy amid the traffic and noise of the city.

Experts increasingly view such experiences as evidence of the broader social consequences of climate change. Rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves and warmer nights are expected to place additional strain on urban populations, particularly those lacking adequate housing and access to public services.For homeless residents, adaptation options remain limited.

Without permanent shelter, air conditioning or reliable access to cooling infrastructure, exposure to dangerous temperatures becomes an unavoidable feature of daily life.As traffic continues to flow above and around the flyover where she lives, Shahida said her focus remains on caring for her daughter and enduring each day as it comes.

Looking at the child sleeping beneath a mosquito net on the pavement, she described Jannat as the source of her determination to keep going despite the hardships of life on the streets.“Maybe she is the only hope I still hold on to,” Shahida said. “Otherwise, I don’t know what is left.”

The World Meteorological Organization said there is an 86 percent chance that at least one year between 2026 and 2030 will surpass 2024 as the warmest year ever recorded. The agency also projected a 75 percent probability that average global temperatures over the five-year period will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The warning comes as parts of Europe experience unusually early heatwaves, with temperature records broken in Britain and France during May.

Scientists linked the rising temperatures partly to the expected return of the El Nino climate pattern by late 2026, which historically boosts global warming. WMO climate expert Leon Hermanson said the phenomenon could make 2027 a potential record-breaking year.

The agency stressed that temporary breaches of the 1.5C threshold do not automatically mean the Paris climate target has permanently failed, as the agreement measures long-term warming trends over decades rather than individual years.

The report also warned of accelerated warming in the Arctic, where winter temperatures are forecast to rise at more than three times the global average. Wetter conditions are expected across northern Europe, the Sahel, Alaska and Siberia, while drought risks may intensify in the Amazon region.