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More than 200,000 people have been evacuated as fast-spreading wildfires tore through parts of southwestern France and central Spain, fueled by extreme heat, dry conditions and shifting winds.
The fires, which erupted earlier this week, prompted large-scale evacuations near Bordeaux in France and Madrid in Spain, as emergency services raced to contain multiple blazes threatening towns, villages and popular tourist areas.
In France, authorities said around 141,000 residents were evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions. In some Atlantic coastal areas, people fled by boat as flames engulfed campsites and holiday destinations.
The wildfire in Gironde alone has scorched about 140 square kilometers and is advancing toward Bordeaux after changing direction with the wind.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said firefighting operations are being reorganized to slow the blaze and protect the city. President Emmanuel Macron has activated the national crisis response unit and deployed military support to assist overwhelmed emergency crews.
The fires, believed to have been accidentally sparked near the Cap Ferret peninsula, have already destroyed dozens of homes and injured more than 40 firefighters. Around 1,500 evacuees were transported by sea to the nearby city of Arcachon.
A separate blaze in the Landes region forced an additional 31,000 people to flee. France has also sought assistance through the European Union’s emergency mechanism, with several countries sending aircraft and firefighting teams.
In Spain, authorities declared a national wildfire emergency for the first time as fires raged near Madrid and in Ávila province, forcing about 60,000 people to evacuate. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed solidarity with affected families and is expected to visit the disaster zones.
Two major fires west of Madrid merged into a single massive blaze, burning around 30 square kilometers. Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso described it as the worst wildfire in the capital’s history. Authorities have also urged about 20,000 residents to remain indoors, warning that further evacuations may be necessary.
In Ávila, another wildfire has burned roughly 90 square kilometers. Police have arrested one person and are investigating another after a spark from heavy machinery allegedly ignited the fire in a restricted area.
Residents across affected regions described scenes of panic as thick smoke and fast-moving flames surrounded communities before evacuation orders were issued.
Spain is already experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons on record. More than 1,140 square kilometers have burned nationwide this year—over five times the area affected during the same period in 2025.
Firefighters are still battling major blazes, including the country’s second-largest wildfire in Guadalajara province, while an earlier fire in southern Spain claimed 13 lives.
Experts warn that intensifying heat linked to climate change, combined with the decline of rural land management, is making wildfires more frequent, larger and harder to control across southern Europe.