Massive wildfires in Spain and France force over 140,000 to evacuate
Wildfires raging in Spain and France have led to the evacuation of more than 140,000 people. Spanish officials say a blaze near Madrid is beyond firefighting capacity, while in France, an 'XXL' fire threatens Bordeaux.
Spain: State of emergency near Madrid
The Spanish government has declared a national emergency after several wildfires spiraled out of control near Madrid. Three fires west of the capital merged into a single blaze, which officials describe as "beyond the capacity" of firefighters. Madrid's regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso called it the "worst fire in the history of the region," citing a perfect storm of high temperatures, relentless wind, and merging fire fronts.
At least 30,000 people have been evacuated from the Madrid region, with another 20,000 under lockdown. In total, over 60,000 people have been affected. Eight municipalities have been evacuated, and several others, including San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa, and Villa del Prado, remain under lockdown. Spain's Military Emergency Unit has been deployed to try to halt the flames, focusing on protecting areas near El Escorial.
A separate wildfire in Ávila province, which has burned nearly 9,000 hectares, has raised fears it could merge with the Madrid fire. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said authorities are doing everything possible to prevent that. One person has been arrested and another is under investigation in connection with the Burgohondo fire, which may have been caused by negligence involving heavy machinery.
France: 'XXL' wildfire threatens Bordeaux
In southwestern France, more than 110,000 people have been evacuated due to massive wildfires in the Gironde and Landes regions. The Gironde blaze, described by local prefect Sophie Brocas as an "XXL fire," has burned over 19,000 hectares of forest and destroyed about 80 homes. The entire Cap Ferret peninsula was evacuated, with hundreds escaping by boat.
Fire chief Marc Vermeulen said conditions are more severe than during the devastating 2022 fires, with drought allowing the blaze to continue spreading through the night. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said such a convective fire had never been seen, and about 50 firefighters have been injured. The fire changed direction on Friday evening and is moving east toward Bordeaux.
In the Landes region, another fire near Biscarrosse forced more than 23,000 people to evacuate homes, campsites, a nursing home, and a summer camp. President Emmanuel Macron has mobilized the military and activated the EU's civil protection mechanism, receiving reinforcements including two Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Climate context
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, heating at more than twice the global average since the 1980s. Hotter, drier conditions leave vegetation with less moisture, creating fuel that enables wildfires to ignite and spread more quickly. Already this year, wildfires have burned more land in Europe than the annual average for the past two decades.
