More than 250,000 flee wildfires in France and Spain
Firefighters in south‑west France struggle to keep wildfires from reaching the city of Bordeaux. Strong winds carry flames and smoke toward the region, leaving officials at a loss to claim the fires are under control. Residents in seven towns west of Bordeaux received evacuation orders overnight.
In Spain the situation is similarly severe. A state of emergency covers Madrid and Ávila after nearly 60,000 people were evacuated nationwide. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the fires as “complex times ahead” and thanked fire crews for progressing during a brief shift in weather.
Wildfire officials in France recorded 98,000 hectares burned since January, while Spanish statistics show 130,000 hectares lost this year alone. The pump crews have called for help from the EU’s civil protection network – aircraft, water bombers and forest fire teams have crossed borders.
An evacuee from Bordeaux’s touristic nightlife described an “aggressive smell” and the urgent need to move to the countryside. The Tour de France’s final stage was shortened to accommodate security and firefighting resources.
Emergency officials in Scotland and Italy have also declared major incidents, reflecting how widespread wildfire outbreaks are across Europe. EU Commissioner Haija Lahbib warned that the damage is likely to surpass previous records as the summer heatwave continues.
Powerful action by governments – mobilizing military logistics, inaugurating international air support and adopting civil protection mechanisms – underscores a growing reality of climate‑driven disasters across the continent.
