Key facts
- Tens of thousands have fled their homes in Spain and France due to devastating wildfires.
- In Spain, nearly 90,000 people have been forced to evacuate from their homes.
- In France, over 250,000 people have fled their homes.
- The fires have ravaged tens of thousands of hectares in Spain.
- A national fire emergency has been declared in Spain.
- Survivors are facing uncertainty about their homes and futures, with many losing all possessions.
Wildfires have devastated large areas of Spain and France, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes and leaving survivors facing an uncertain future.
In Spain, nearly 90,000 people have been displaced by fires raging in three central provinces, scorching tens of thousands of hectares. Two major blazes near Madrid merged, later combining with another fire, prompting the government to declare a national fire emergency for the first time. The flames have also spread to Toledo province.
Southwest France has seen over 250,000 people flee their homes as fires burn through the Bordeaux wine region. Survivors like Elvira Menéndez, 79, and Rocío Domínguez are staying in makeshift shelters, having lost homes and possessions. Domínguez described the escape as "madness" and "like the apocalypse," with ash covering everything and burned animals visible.
Spanish royals King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited a shelter to hear personal testimonies. Minister of Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen noted that further evacuations are expected. Queen Letizia emphasized the importance of listening to the survivors' feelings of sadness, anguish, and uncertainty.
The wildfires have cast a shadow over Spain, which was recently celebrating its FIFA World Cup triumph. Head coach Luis de la Fuente visited those affected, assuring them of the country's support, drawing a parallel to the support given to the national football team.