Wildfires sweep France and Spain, forcing mass evacuations as Europe battles extreme heat
Massive wildfires fueled by scorching temperatures, prolonged drought and strong winds continued to rage across France and Spain on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and prompting an unprecedented emergency response.
In southwestern France, wildfires spread inland toward the city of Bordeaux, leading authorities to evacuate nearly 197,000 people from the Gironde and Landes regions. Bordeaux Airport was temporarily closed, and the French government advised people to avoid unnecessary road and rail travel in affected areas.
“The fires that are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before,” French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu wrote on X.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the fire front was about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Bordeaux. Although conditions were calmer on Saturday morning, officials warned that stronger winds expected later in the day could worsen the situation.
France has deployed military personnel to support exhausted firefighting crews as they battle the fast-moving blazes across the country’s southwest.
In neighboring Spain, authorities declared the country’s first national wildfire emergency after three major fires, including two that merged west of Madrid, continued to burn out of control.
More than 63,000 people have either been evacuated or ordered to remain indoors because of the fires. Through the European Union’s emergency assistance mechanism, Italy and Greece are sending four additional water-bombing aircraft to Spain, while firefighting planes from the Netherlands and Portugal have already joined operations.
High winds have complicated firefighting efforts in both countries, rapidly spreading flames through dry forests and vegetation.
A third wildfire in Spain’s Ávila province also threatened to merge with the larger fires near Madrid, raising concerns among emergency officials.
At the Monasterio de Pelayos campsite west of Madrid, around 30 mobile homes were destroyed after flames swept through the area. Campsite owner Esteban Carrasco told Spain’s national broadcaster TVE that about 200 campers were safely evacuated before the fire arrived.
“It was a horrific disaster,” Carrasco said, noting that while one side of the campsite was devastated, buildings across the road remained untouched. No injuries were reported.
Although smoke over Madrid eased somewhat on Saturday, Spanish Health Minister Mónica García urged residents to avoid outdoor activities.
“Avoid physical activity and staying outdoors. If you go outdoors and there is smoke or ash, use a mask,” García wrote on X.
Scientists say the fires are the latest in a series of climate-related disasters affecting Europe, where prolonged heatwaves and unusually dry conditions have increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Reuters reports that authorities expect firefighting operations in both countries to continue for several days as crews battle difficult weather conditions.
