Wildfire evacuations mount in France and Spain as flames approach Bordeaux
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Wildfires continue to spread across France and Spain, displacing over 250,000 people as emergency services request European international assistance.
Wildfires across southwestern France and central Spain continue to spread, prompting widespread evacuations and emergency declarations. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that displaced residents in the Gironde department alone rose to over 110,000 as flames moved toward Bordeaux. Across Southern Europe, total evacuations have surpassed 250,000.
In response to expanding blazes around Madrid and Ávila, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska declared a state of emergency. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that specialized firefighting aircraft and heavy helicopters from Croatia, Portugal, Czechia, and Slovakia are reinforcing local personnel. Emergency authorities caution that containment remains difficult.
Sources: NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting), NRC.
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Earlier coverage
- Jul 25, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCWildfire evacuations across France and Spain surpass 270,000 as fatality reported
- Jul 25, 2026, 01:30 AM UTCEvacuations surge past 140,000 in France as wildfires spread across Southern Europe
- Jul 24, 2026, 02:30 PM UTCWildfires prompt emergency declaration in Spain and EU aid request from France