- Emergency declared in Madrid as wildfires sweep across Europe, prompting urgent responses from authorities.
- In Spain, the largest fire is in Guadalajara province, about 100km north of Madrid, having devastated 32,000 hectares since last Thursday.
- French authorities have ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula tourist hotspot, with holidaymakers required to leave by boat or road.
- Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged the public to exercise "great caution" and heed instructions from authorities amid the wildfires.
- Almost 125,000 hectares have burnt in Spain this year, compared to 393,000 hectares for the whole of last year, according to EFFIS.
- On the French Atlantic coast, 40,000 people have been driven from their homes over two days, and 87 square kilometers have been burned near the Cap Ferret peninsula.
- More than 20,000 people evacuated after two major fires west of Bordeaux, with four European nations sending planes and helicopters for assistance.
Firefighters are facing unprecedented challenges as wildfires rage across France and Spain, exacerbated by extreme heat and drought conditions.
In Spain, a national emergency has been declared, with over 10,000 people evacuated from the Madrid region alone. The interior ministry has mobilized military units to combat the flames, which have consumed over 100,000 hectares this year, including a devastating fire in Guadalajara that has burned 32,000 hectares since last Thursday.2
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged citizens to exercise great caution as authorities sent evacuation messages to thousands in affected areas. Civil protection chief Virginia Barcones emphasized the dire situation, stating that some fires are so intense that firefighters have “no chance” against them.4
Meanwhile, in France, authorities have ordered the evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, a popular tourist destination, as flames threaten valuable properties. Regional chief Sophie Brocas mandated that everyone must leave by boat or road, with 40,000 people evacuated in the past two days. The blaze has already scorched more than 87 square kilometers since it began.36
In response to the crisis, President Emmanuel Macron has requested assistance from the EU, with four European nations sending planes and helicopters to aid firefighting efforts. The situation remains critical as wildfires continue to spread across the continent, fueled by three successive heatwaves this season.
“In Spain, the largest fire in Guadalajara has devastated 32,000 hectares, as civil protection chief Virginia Barcones warned that 'climate change is what kills.' In France, 40,000 people have been evacuated from the Cap Ferret peninsula.”
