Europe in the Grip of Wildfires: Over 300,000 Evacuated as France and Spain Battle Flames and Flooding

France and Spain continue to be ravaged by large-scale wildfires that have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.

More than 295,000 people have so far been evacuated across the two countries. Thousands of firefighters, supported by planes and helicopters, are trying to bring the flames under control, as their spread is being fueled by extreme heat, drought and strong winds.

The most critical situation is in southwestern France. The fire in the Gironde region has advanced to around 15 kilometers from Bordeaux, while nearly 220,000 people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes have been destroyed. President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency government meeting. Authorities warn that temperatures could reach 37 degrees Celsius, increasing the risk that the fires will spread further.

The situation also remains serious in Spain, where more than 75,000 residents have left high-risk areas, while around 30,000 others have been ordered to remain indoors. The main fires are concentrated near Madrid and in the Valencia region. In the province of Ávila, the fire has consumed more than 50,000 hectares and is considered one of the largest in Spain’s history.

Due to the scale of the crisis, the Spanish government has activated European assistance and declared a national emergency.

Alongside the spread of the wildfires, France has also been hit by another extreme weather event. Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in several parts of the country, submerging roads, homes and businesses. Emergency teams have carried out dozens of operations to evacuate residents and restore normality, while authorities say unstable weather conditions could continue over the coming hours.