More than 200,000 people have been forced to leave their homes as large wildfires continue to burn across parts of France and Spain. The fires are being driven by extreme heat, strong winds, and very dry conditions.
In Spain, the government declared a national emergency for the first time over wildfires. Blazes near Madrid and in the neighbouring province of Ávila forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate or stay indoors. Madrid’s regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, described the situation as the “worst fire in the history of the region,” calling it a perfect storm of high temperatures and relentless winds.
In France, the situation is equally serious. Authorities ordered the full evacuation of the popular Cap Ferret peninsula near Bordeaux, with many people leaving by boat. Fires in the Gironde and Landes areas have burned thousands of hectares and are moving toward the Bordeaux region. French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the military to help firefighters contain the flames.
Thousands of firefighters are still working on the front lines in both countries. Officials have warned that climate-driven weather is making these fires more intense and harder to control. European help, including water-bombing planes, has also been requested as the emergency continues.
