Wildfires ravage parts of Italy, Spain and France, prompting thousands of evacuations

Wildfires raged on Wednesday in Sicily, southwestern France, and central Spain.

The fires prompted thousands of evacuations and claimed the life of an Italian firefighter.

Temperatures topped 40°C and gusts of hot wind fanned the flames in Sicily.

Some 6,000 firefighters, forest guards, and civil protection officials were deployed in Sicily.

Regional head Renato Schifani said 50 fires were still raging.