France and Spain are battling devastating wildfires that have forced about 267,000 people to flee their homes as emergency crews struggle to contain the fast-moving flames.
In France, nearly 197,000 residents and tourists were evacuated from areas around Bordeaux, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez describing it as “probably” the country’s largest peacetime evacuation.
About 70,000 people were also evacuated from villages west of Madrid, where Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government’s priority was “to save lives” during a visit to the affected communities.
Heavy smoke from the fires covered the skies over Madrid, while thick ash settled across parts of the city, forcing many residents to keep their windows shut because of the choking air.
Jacqueline Villafranca, who fled the village of Navalagamella with her family, recalled, “I thought everything was going to burn, the house and everything,” adding, “Here you can breathe normally — yesterday it was unbearable.”
Although firefighters have been battling the blazes around the clock for several days, authorities in both countries said the fires were less intense overnight but warned the danger was far from over.
Sanchez cautioned, “We are going to have some complex hours ahead because although the temperatures have gone down, we do not know exactly how the wind will develop, how strong it will be.”
French officials confirmed that no civilian deaths have been reported, although two firefighters lost their lives earlier this week near Bordeaux, where more than 32,000 hectares have already been destroyed.
France has deployed 1,000 soldiers, additional firefighters, and a military aircraft capable of dropping 20 tonnes of fire retardant, while both France and Spain are receiving firefighting support from other European Union countries.
Officials said the fires, fueled by prolonged heatwaves and drought linked to climate change, have burned nearly 98,000 hectares across France and about 25,000 hectares near Madrid, with emergency teams continuing efforts to stop the infernos from spreading further.
