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Photos: A week of wildfires and heatwaves around the world

California burning.
California burning.
Image: AP Photo/Noah Berger
By
Johnny Simon
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Wildfires continued to spread in regions across the globe as hot and dry temperatures made forests especially vulnerable. And heatwaves across Europe and Asia have been especially deadly.

In northern California, the Ferguson Fire has crept ever closer to Yosemite National Park, filling its mountain valley with smoke and forcing it to close to tourists, while the more northern Carr fire has killed two and burned more than 40,000 acres.

A car passes through flames on Highway 299 as the Carr fire burns through Shasta, California on July 26.
A car passes through flames on Highway 299 as the Carr fire burns through Shasta, California on July 26.
Image: AP Photo/Noah Berger
A cloud of smoke above the Carr fire.
A cloud of smoke above the Carr fire.
Image: AP Photo/Noah Berger
The Carr fire tears through Shasta.
The Carr fire tears through Shasta.
Image: AP Photo/Noah Berger
Francisco Avendano, visiting from Madrid, Spain, photographs Half Dome as smoke from the Ferguson Fire hangs over Yosemite National Park on July 24.
Francisco Avendano, visiting from Madrid, Spain, photographs Half Dome as smoke from the Ferguson Fire hangs over Yosemite National Park on July 24.
Image: AP Photo/Noah Berger

Meanwhile, a massive wildfire, initially blamed on arson, killed more than 80 people in Greece.

Smoke rise over an avenue during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a suburb of Athens, Greece on July 23.
Smoke rise over an avenue during a forest fire in Neo Voutsa, a suburb of Athens, Greece on July 23.
Image: EPA/Alexandros Vlachos
Residents walk between burned cars in Mati, Greece on July 24.
Residents walk between burned cars in Mati, Greece on July 24.
Image: EPA/Pantelis Saitas
An aerial view of burnt houses and trees following a wildfire in Mati, east of Athens, seen on July 25.
An aerial view of burnt houses and trees following a wildfire in Mati, east of Athens, seen on July 25.
Image: Antonis Nikolopoulos/Eurokinissi via AP

Sweden has been fighting wildfires for weeks, as hot and dry weather has led to more blazes in Arctic regions.

Burnt forest from a wildfire that raged northeast of Ljusdal in central Sweden on July 26.
Burnt forest from a wildfire that raged northeast of Ljusdal in central Sweden on July 26.
Image: EPA
The remains of a wildfire in Alvdalen in central Sweden on July 26.
The remains of a wildfire in Alvdalen in central Sweden on July 26.
Image: EPA

In Japan, a heatwave is being blamed for 65 deaths, while a typhoon expected to make landfall. Searing temperatures have also broiled the UK and other parts of Europ.

A Berlin police water cannon douses park in Berlin, Germany during the heatwave on July 26.
A Berlin police water cannon douses park in Berlin, Germany during the heatwave on July 26.
Image: EPA/Alexander Becher
Two men sunbathe at the Rhine River in Duesseldorf, Germany on July 26.
Two men sunbathe at the Rhine River in Duesseldorf, Germany on July 26.
Image: EPA/Friedemann Vogel
Battling the scorching heat in a business district in Tokyo, on July 23
Battling the scorching heat in a business district in Tokyo, on July 23
Image: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara
Visitors rest in the shade in the midday heat at Cheonggye stream in Seoul, South Korea on July 23.
Visitors rest in the shade in the midday heat at Cheonggye stream in Seoul, South Korea on July 23.
Image: AP Photo/Lee Jin-man