France faces its darkest moment since World War II before Macron's departure
Just as France and Spain were recovering from extreme heat that killed thousands, devastating wildfires have struck again.
By the end of this month, the burned areas in France and Spain have exceeded 115,000 hectares and 150,000 hectares respectively—both records higher than last year. Over 300,000 residents have already been forced to evacuate.
Besides the soaring fire-ravaged area, France has also experienced a rare phenomenon known as "pyrocumulus clouds," which are not the same as "fire clouds." Commonly referred to as "fire thunderstorms," these formations are extremely destructive.
In simple terms, pyrocumulus clouds are natural disasters triggered by fires and extreme heat. As wildfires spread, intense thermal updrafts rapidly rise into the atmosphere, forming a special type of convective cloud mass. Once they reach a certain altitude, ice crystals form within them. As these ice crystals collide, electrical charges accumulate, leading to lightning strikes—which can ignite new fire points.
Extreme heat and spreading wildfires create feedback loops: the high temperatures fuel further wildfires, which in turn generate more extreme weather conditions, making fire behavior increasingly unpredictable and placing firefighters at a severe disadvantage.
French President Emmanuel Macron openly stated that since World War II, France has never faced such a desperate situation. The current crisis is the most severe in decades after the war, and the French people must respond with extraordinary resilience and urgency to overcome this catastrophe.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, unlike Macron, did not use poetic language—he simply called on the entire nation to take stronger measures and work together to survive the crisis.
Notably, Macron’s term ends next year, and this year’s disaster intensity is exceptionally high. This is not only France’s darkest hour but may also be the final dark chapter of his presidency.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871948643308616/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.