Key facts
- Over 220,000 people evacuated in France's Gironde department due to wildfires.
- Wildfires have burnt approximately 32,700 hectares in Gironde.
- Fires are also impacting other French departments including Landes, Var, and Hautes-Alpes.
- Spain has declared a national emergency in the Madrid area and Ávila province.
- Around 100,000 people evacuated in Spain due to wildfires.
- International aid, including aircraft and personnel, is being deployed to both France and Spain.
Wildfires are continuing to spread across southwestern France and parts of Spain, leading to extensive evacuations and a significant deployment of firefighting resources. In France's Gironde department, over 220,000 people have been evacuated as blazes, which began on Tuesday, have consumed approximately 32,700 hectares. Evacuations were extended to five villages around Bordeaux on Saturday night due to dry conditions and strong winds fanning the flames. The French government has reported nearly 100,000 hectares burnt nationwide this year, a figure described as a 'historic record.'
In Spain, wildfires are raging in the Madrid area and Ávila province, prompting the government to declare a national emergency and evacuate around 100,000 people. International assistance is being provided through the EU's civil protection mechanism, with Italy, Portugal, and Greece sending personnel, aircraft, and vehicles to aid firefighting efforts. Spanish officials have described the coming hours as 'crucial' for protecting communities and homes, with the prime minister emphasizing the priority of safeguarding lives.