More than 250,000 citizens have been forced to abandon their homes as France and Spain go through the most destructive period of fires in recent history.
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Despite the mobilization of hundreds of firefighters and aerial means, the flames continue to advance rapidly, fueled by extreme temperatures, lack of humidity, and strong winds.
French territory has recorded around 197,000 evacuees in the outskirts of Bordeaux, where the largest fire ever documented in the country is burning. On the Cap Ferret peninsula, nearly 44,000 people were displaced, a significant portion using watercraft, while the flames have consumed more than 50 residential structures.
President Emmanuel Macron ordered the involvement of the armed forces and appealed to the European Union for additional support in dealing with this emergency.
In Spain, an equally alarming scenario has forced the evacuation of over 70,000 residents from the western areas of Madrid, where two initial outbreaks have merged into a huge fire, which is currently considered out of control by authorities.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized that protecting lives and populated centers is the main priority, warning that the coming hours will be critical due to wind gusts.
In the French operation, about 1,000 military personnel and a transport aircraft adapted for dropping retardants on fire outbreaks have been deployed, while the European Union has made firefighting aircraft available to both states.
According to preliminary data, about 22,000 hectares have burned in France, while in the Spanish province of Guadalajara the flames have affected an area of approximately 32,000 hectares.
