Key facts
- Wildfires in France and Spain have forced the evacuation of over 250,000 people.
- One fatality has been reported in Manises, Spain.
- The final stage of the Tour de France was shortened to redirect security resources to combat the fires.
- A French military cargo plane was deployed to aid firefighting efforts near Bordeaux.
- Approximately 140 homes have been destroyed in the Gironde region of France.
Wildfires are raging across southern Europe, forcing widespread evacuations and straining emergency services. In France, a military cargo plane was deployed to dump flame retardants on blazes threatening the city of Bordeaux, while the final stage of the Tour de France was significantly shortened to redeploy security personnel to assist in firefighting efforts. Spanish authorities declared a national emergency as fires displaced tens of thousands, with one death reported in Manises.
More than 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to the latest wildfires this week. In France's Gironde region, which includes Bordeaux, firefighters are engaged in a challenging battle against a blaze that has been described as a 'firestorm' and has destroyed approximately 140 homes. Shifting winds have raised concerns about the fire spreading closer to Bordeaux, prompting authorities to order further evacuations and mobilize soldiers to support fire crews. The government is also rushing 1.5 million face masks to protect residents from choking smoke.
The magnitude of the fires has caught authorities off guard, leading to exceptional measures such as the truncation of the Tour de France's final stage. Race organizers and Paris police announced the reduced route to allow security personnel to reinforce wildfire response efforts. The French military's A400M transport plane, equipped for firefighting, has joined at least 18 other aircraft and helicopters in the battle.