Paris: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said €10 million would be allocated to the Gironde department and €2 million to neighbouring Landes, with the funds made available immediately to support recovery and reconstruction. Gironde has been among the areas worst affected by this summer’s fires.

The government is also preparing a broader framework for reconstruction and adapting communities to future wildfire risks. Businesses affected by the fires will receive temporary relief from social security contributions and property-related taxes for three months.

Lecornu said the overall cost of government support could quickly exceed €100 million once tax exemptions and other measures are included. Authorities have also earmarked €2 million in cooperation with local and private-sector partners to help revive tourism and restore the attractiveness of fire-hit areas.

The measures come as Europe continues to battle a severe wildfire season driven by successive heatwaves and drought. More than 576,000 hectares have already burned across Europe this year, according to European Forest Fire Information System data cited by Reuters.

In Belgium, rain and cooler temperatures have assisted firefighters tackling the country’s largest recorded wildfire in the High Fens nature reserve. The blaze has burned around 3,000 hectares, with hundreds of firefighters and international teams involved in efforts to contain it.

Spain has also been battling major fires, including a blaze in the Aragón region that had scorched more than 16,000 hectares, while France deployed firefighters to assist Spanish crews.

On the Greek island of Salamina, two people were killed as wildfires swept through residential areas, forcing more than 500 people to evacuate. Nearly 200 firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to tackle the flames.

Portugal, meanwhile, continues to fight wildfires in its northern regions as emergency crews across Europe remain on alert amid tinder-dry conditions and continuing high temperatures.