Fire-generated whirlwinds expand France and Spain blazes as evacuations top 300,000

Firefighters in southwestern France and central Spain continue to struggle against expanding wildfires, with total regional evacuations surpassing 300,000 people. In France's Gironde department, prefecture officials ordered the partial closure of a major autoroute as severe weather conditions and fire-generated whirlwinds pushed flames closer to Bordeaux. Local authorities warned that emergency crews remain "far from having the fire under control."

Meanwhile, Spanish emergency services are battling merged blazes west of Madrid that regional leaders described as beyond containment capacity. Gusts of wind and extreme heat continue to frustrate firefighting efforts across both countries, with officials preparing for further difficult night operations as high winds prevent stabilization.

Sources: BBC News, DW, France24, ORF