Tim Hanlon

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck near Librilla in Spain’s Murcia region at 11:59 a.m., with tremors felt in nearby Alicante, Benidorm and Albacete. Murcia’s emergency coordination centre received more than 80 calls, but reported no injuries or material damage. The quake was Spain’s strongest in six months and occurred amid heightened seismic activity in the region, which is vulnerable because of tectonic plate convergence and local fault networks.

Fierce wildfires in southwestern France have burned more than 42,000 hectares, killed two firefighters and injured 88 others, while forcing over 260,000 residents to evacuate. Fires have approached within nine miles of Bordeaux as temperatures are forecast to reach 41°C, prompting preparations for further evacuations. France is battling dozens of fires daily, and nearby Spain has ordered 63,000 people near Madrid to leave their homes. Officials in both countries warn that rising temperatures will make the coming days particularly dangerous.