France and Spain Face Catastrophic Fires: Over 130,000 Evacuated, Urgent EU Aid Requested

A severe wildfire crisis has engulfed France and Spain, marking one of the darkest periods ever recorded in these countries. More than 130,000 citizens have been forcibly evacuated from the affected areas, and the respective governments have called for support from the European Union to bring the flames under control.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that 110,000 residents have been evacuated from the southwestern regions, while the fire has already scorched an area of over 14,000 hectares. “This is the first time we are facing a fire of this scale,” he said, adding that around 50 firefighters were injured during Friday’s firefighting operations.

For French authorities, the situation is unprecedented, and they have raised concerns that the fire is moving eastward, directly threatening the Bordeaux metropolitan area, whose airport has already been closed. The famous Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast, a beloved holiday destination for the French and many international celebrities, has been under total evacuation after an emergency alert was sent to all vacationers.

An equally dramatic scene is unfolding in Spain, where over 25,000 people have been evacuated and around 20,000 others have been forced into isolation. Spanish officials reported that they are doing everything possible to prevent the fire hotspot in Avila from merging with the one burning in the Madrid area.

However, on Friday afternoon, the two fire fronts west of the Spanish capital merged, further worsening the situation. Authorities describe the situation as very complex and warn that evacuations in these areas will continue without interruption.