Macron convenes crisis meeting as southwestern Europe's wildfires force thousands to flee

French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency crisis meeting as severe wildfires rage across France and Spain, forcing between 250,000 and 325,000 people to flee their homes.

Officials cautioned they "are far from having the fire under control" as strong winds push blazes toward Bordeaux, where overnight evacuation orders were issued for seven nearby towns. Firefighters warned that an unprecedented pyrocumulonimbus cloud generated by the flames is creating volatile winds and lightning, further complicating containment efforts.

Meanwhile, Spain has declared a national state of emergency as fire crews struggle against persistent extreme heat. French authorities confirmed that evacuees cannot return until blazes are stabilized, with total burned land in France exceeding 115,000 hectares this year.

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