A weekly photo roundup showcases significant global events, including wildfires across Europe and the US, a deadly earthquake in Colombia, Russian strikes in Ukraine, and a solar eclipse visible in parts of Europe.
Wildfires Rage Across Continents
In California, the Bug fire burned in Lassen County, with firefighters battling blazes across western states, nearly half of which remained out of control. In Canada, a fast-moving wildfire near Penticton, British Columbia, prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency, ordering nearly 22,000 people to evacuate and warning 9,700 more to be ready to leave.
In Spokane, Washington, rows of houses were destroyed by the Old Trails fire, though firefighters strengthened containment lines, allowing some evacuees to return home. In France, thick smoke blanketed the Landes forest near Luglon during a wildfire, with nearly 500 people arrested on suspicion of starting fires since the beginning of summer.
Earthquake Devastates Colombia
A powerful earthquake struck Colombia on Monday at 7.34am, becoming the country's deadliest since a 6.2-magnitude quake in January 1999 that killed over 1,000 people. In Cali, rescuers searched for survivors in collapsed buildings, while in Pereira, firefighters carried the survivor Daniela Andrea Largo Sanchez from the rubble. The city's mayor, Mauricio Salazar, reported 65 buildings collapsed, with people believed trapped in at least 15.
Conflict and Displacement
In Ukraine, rescue efforts followed a Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said used ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea. In Afghanistan, girls attended lessons at home, as Taliban restrictions have barred education beyond age 12 and limited women's roles. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers patrolled Nablus, and settlers besieged Palestinian homes in Qusra, with residents describing a campaign of terror.
Eclipse and Cultural Moments
Observers on Primrose Hill in London watched a solar eclipse, while in Lodoso, Spain, the sun's corona glowed during totality. In Serbia, low water levels revealed a 1945 shipwreck in the Sava River. In France, migrants attempted to cross the Channel, despite a 40% drop in crossings. In Nigeria, the Osun-Osogbo festival featured devotees in trances, and in Bangladesh, children played near railway tracks. In Paris, Léon Marchand competed in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay at the European Aquatics Championships.
