Macron calls crisis meeting as wildfires force hundreds of thousands to flee

French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency crisis meeting as severe wildfires continue to expand across southwestern France and Spain. Firefighters reported unprecedented atmospheric conditions in France, including a pyrocumulonimbus cloud that is creating localized lightning and volatile winds, further complicating containment efforts near Bordeaux.

National authorities report that over 115,000 hectares have burned nationwide in France this year, with more than 42,000 hectares consumed in the Gironde region alone. In Spain, officials declared a national state of emergency while flames disrupted regional infrastructure and forced adjustments to the Tour de France route.

Displacement estimates vary across reporting. Le Figaro and Der Standard report 220,000 evacuations in Gironde, BBC News and France24 estimate over 250,000 displaced across both countries, while Helsingin Sanomat puts the total above 325,000.

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, France24, Helsingin Sanomat, Le Figaro.