- As of Monday, there are 13 fires burning across France, including on Corsica, and authorities in Spain have declared a national emergency due to wildfires in parts of Madrid and Ávila.
- Parts of Gironde and Landes in the south west of France are affected, with Gironde and Pyrénées-Orientales at the highest fire alert level.
- The UK government advises that access to affected areas in France may be restricted and roads may close at short notice, with further evacuations possible.
- Sophie Brocas, prefect of the French department of Gironde, urged tourists not to visit, advising those already there to consider an alternative destination.
- Travel insurance may cover costs if plans are disrupted by a wildfire, but only half of policies include "catastrophe" cover.
- Airlines should offer rebooking or full refunds if flights are canceled due to wildfires, according to travel insurance experts.
- The amount of land burned by wildfires across Europe has increased by 57% since summer 2022, according to the World Health Organization.
Wildfires in France and Spain have led to mass evacuations, affecting over 300,000 individuals. Authorities have declared emergencies, with regions like Gironde and Madrid facing severe restrictions.1234
"I urge tourists not to come," said Sophie Brocas, prefect of Gironde, as access to affected areas may be limited.7
In France, 13 fires are currently active, including on Corsica, while Spain has declared a national emergency in Madrid and Ávila.
Travel disruptions are significant, with many evacuees seeking shelter in sports halls. The UK government has warned against travel to the affected areas.56
Insurance implications are also a concern, as only half of travel policies include catastrophe cover, according to Defaqto.
"If your travel plans are disrupted by a wildfire and your policy includes trip disruption cover then travel insurance may cover some of the resulting costs," noted Chris Bose from the Association of British Insurers.89
The World Health Organization reports that the amount of land burned by wildfires across Europe has increased by 57% since summer 2022, highlighting the growing severity of these natural disasters.11
“As of Monday, 13 fires are burning across France, prompting the UK government to warn of restricted access to affected areas. Additionally, the World Health Organization reports that the amount of land burned by wildfires across Europe has increased by 57% since summer 2022.”
