- More than 250,000 people have fled wildfires in France and Spain
- Fires have destroyed thousands of hectares and dozens of homes
- Authorities warn strong winds could worsen the crisis
More than 250,000 residents and holidaymakers have fled their homes as fast-moving wildfires continue to sweep through parts of France and Spain, forcing large-scale evacuations and stretching emergency services.
In Spain, Eko Hot Blog gathered that firefighters battled intense blazes near Madrid on Saturday, although officials warned that shifting winds could worsen the situation. Thick smoke covered areas west of the capital as crews struggled to contain the flames.
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Carlos Novillo, Madrid’s regional emergency management chief, said the wildfire remained at its most dangerous stage and had exceeded the current capacity of firefighting teams.
According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, nearly 10,000 hectares of land have been destroyed in the Madrid region, while another 13,000 to 15,000 hectares have burned in neighbouring Avila province. The affected area is more than twice the size of Paris.
Authorities said about 70,000 people have been evacuated as the fires continued to spread. Two separate blazes merged on Friday into a larger wildfire, with concerns it could combine with another fire burning in the nearby Castilla y Leon region.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited the fire zone and stressed that protecting lives remained the government’s top priority.
He acknowledged that although temperatures had dropped slightly, uncertain wind conditions could make firefighting efforts more difficult in the coming hours.
Meanwhile, France also faced worsening wildfire conditions around Bordeaux, prompting authorities to evacuate thousands of residents from suburbs including Le Haillan, Eysines and Merignac.
The Bordeaux area, known for its vineyards and as a major gateway to Atlantic coastal resorts, has been heavily affected. Around 44,000 people were forced to leave the Cap Ferret peninsula as flames threatened the area’s only access road.
Some evacuees escaped by boat, while others left by road. Officials said more than 50 homes on the peninsula have been destroyed.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that approximately 197,000 people have been evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions, describing the fires as unprecedented in scale.
He convened another emergency government meeting on Saturday to review the national response after holding a similar session the previous day.
France has also deployed military personnel and equipment to assist firefighting operations. President Emmanuel Macron requested additional support from the European Union and ordered the deployment of a military transport aircraft to aid suppression efforts.
Around 100 firefighters from Paris have joined operations in the southwest, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said nearly 98,000 hectares had been consumed by fires across France, calling it a historic level of destruction.
Several fires remain active, raising concerns that more evacuations may be necessary.
Scientists say repeated heatwaves and prolonged drought linked to human-driven climate change have significantly increased wildfire risks across parts of Europe this year.
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