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The week in pictures: European wildfires, a woolly mammoth and a migrant influx at Spain’s Ceuta

The week in pictures: European wildfires, a woolly mammoth and a migrant influx at Spain’s Ceuta

In pictures

Europe

Fires burned across much of Europe, an earthquake in Japan killed dozens, record-low water levels in Bulgaria exposed the remains of a woolly mammoth, and tens of thousands sought to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta before eventually returning home: FRANCE 24 looks back at some of the week’s most striking images.

Issued on: 02/08/2026 – 12:16

2 min Reading time

By:

FRANCE 24

This photograph shows an area engulfed in flames during a wildfire near the village of Asomatos on the Greek island of Crete on July 30, 2026 — This photograph shows an area engulfed in flames during a wildfire near the village of Asomatos on the Greek island of Crete on July 30, 2026. © Costas Metaxakis, AFP

Migrants attempting to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta gather on a hilltop during clashes with Moroccan security forces near the town of Fnideq on the Morocco-Spain border — Migrants attempting to cross into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta gather on a hilltop during clashes with Moroccan security forces near the town of Fnideq, on the Morocco-Spain border, on July 31, 2026. © Abdel Majid Bziouat, AFP

Smoke rises over the city center of Kyiv after a Russian missile attack — Smoke rises over the city center of Kyiv after a Russian missile attack on August 1, 2026. © Dan Bashakov, AP

Former French international football player Zinedine Zidane during a press conference presenting him as the new head coach of France's national football team — Former French international football player Zinedine Zidane during a press conference presenting him as the new head coach of France’s national football team on July 28, 2026. © Lou Benoist, AFP

This aerial view, taken from a Civil Security helicopter, shows firefighters beside a fire truck working to bring under control a fire ravaging a field near Ares, southwestern France, on July 28, 2026. — This aerial view, taken from a Civil Security helicopter, shows firefighters beside a fire truck working to bring under control a fire ravaging a field near Ares, southwestern France, on July 28, 2026. © Baz Ratner, AFP

A powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan left 34 people dead on July 28, 2026, including several who perished in the destruction of the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping centre in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture. — A powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan left 34 people dead on July 28, 2026, including several who perished in the destruction of the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping centre in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture. © Yuichi Yamazaki, AFP

This photograph shows an area ablaze during a forest fire near the village of Asomatos, on the Greek island of Crete, on July 30, 2026. Two firefighters died on Wednesday while battling the wildfire — This photograph shows an area ablaze during a forest fire near the village of Asomatos, on the Greek island of Crete, on July 30, 2026. Two firefighters died on Wednesday while battling the wildfire. © Costas Metaxakis, AFP

This handout photograph released on July 30, 2026 shows the remains of an ancient mammoth in Bulgaria as record-low water levels on the Danube River exposed parts of the riverbed near the village of Ryahovo. Specialists have so far identified a jaw bone, tusk fragments, part of a shoulder blade and a femur. Woolly mammoths co-existed with early humans, who hunted them for food and used their tusks and bones as tools. — This handout photograph released on July 30, 2026 shows the remains of an ancient mammoth in Bulgaria as record-low water levels on the Danube River exposed parts of the riverbed near the village of Ryahovo. Specialists have so far identified a jaw bone, tusk fragments, part of a shoulder blade and a femur. Woolly mammoths co-existed with early humans, who hunted them for food and used their tusks and bones as tools. © Handout photo, Rousse Regional Historical Museum/Teodor Mechev via AFP

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