A wave of mass evacuations has swept southwestern France and central parts of Spain, as destructive wildfires that have been raging for days have forced nearly 300,000 residents and holidaymakers to abandon their homes and tourist regions.
Të lidhura
None found
In France, the military has gone into action to support firefighting operations, while Spain has activated a nationwide state of emergency. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has signaled that the coming hours will be extremely critical, as both countries have accepted assistance from the European Union.
An aerial fleet of helicopters from Portugal, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland is joining efforts to bring the fire outbreaks under control on both French and Spanish soil.
Reports from Spain confirm the loss of one life in the Valencia area, and the emergency hospitalization of several other people who are receiving treatment for severe burns and breathing difficulties.
The French administration has deployed thousands of armed forces personnel and distributed 1.5 million protective masks to shield the population from dense smoke. Residents and holidaymakers in several sectors of the southwest were given an unequivocal order to leave without delay, leaving behind areas already completely deserted due to the imminent danger.
So far, the evacuation toll amounts to more than 200,000 displaced from France and over 70,000 from Spain, as the daily battle against the fire fronts continues unabated.
