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More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as massive wildfires continue to rage across parts of France and Spain, with extreme heat and strong winds fuelling the fast-moving blazes.
In southwestern France, firefighters are battling a major fire advancing toward Bordeaux, as officials warn the situation remains far from under control. Authorities ordered an additional 55,000 evacuations on Saturday, bringing the total number of displaced people in the Gironde and Landes regions to around 250,000.
Fire crews say the blaze has become increasingly unpredictable, generating its own wind systems and whirlwinds, making containment efforts extremely challenging. Military personnel have been deployed to assist firefighters by clearing vegetation and creating firebreaks.
President Emmanuel Macron pledged continued government support, vowing to help affected communities rebuild and recover. Thick smoke from the fires has spread across Bordeaux, with residents reporting heavy ash and a strong smell of burning.
The crisis has also disrupted major events, with organizers of the Tour de France shortening its final stage to allow emergency resources to be redirected.
French authorities say nearly 30 large wildfires are currently burning nationwide, calling the situation unprecedented.
In neighboring Spain, firefighters are tackling major blazes west of Madrid, even as slightly cooler weather offers limited relief. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that the country still faces “complex times ahead.”
A fatality has been reported in the Valencia region, where a man in his 70s was found dead inside a burned vehicle following a wildfire in Manises.
Nearly 60,000 people have been evacuated in the Madrid and Ávila regions, while over 28,000 others remain confined to their homes, according to authorities. Additional evacuations have been ordered in areas near Toledo.
Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described the situation as the worst wildfire emergency in the region’s history.
So far this year, about 130,000 hectares have burned across Spain—well above the decade-long average—while France has lost nearly 98,000 hectares to fires.
Elsewhere in Europe, Italy is battling hundreds of blazes, particularly in Sicily, while Scotland has declared a major incident over a prolonged wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park.
The European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, deploying aircraft, helicopters and specialist teams to assist affected countries, as officials warn this year’s wildfire season could surpass previous records.
