Wildfires prompt emergency declaration in Spain and EU aid request from France
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Severe wildfires in Spain and France have triggered a state of emergency around Madrid and an appeal for EU firefighting support near Bordeaux.
Authorities in Spain and France are battling severe wildfires, prompting emergency measures and international support across Southern Europe.
In Spain, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska declared a state of emergency due to blazes spreading around Madrid and the neighboring province of Ávila. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France requested assistance from European allies to control fires near Bordeaux, where over 20,000 people have been evacuated.
The European Union is sending firefighting aircraft and helicopters to support emergency crews in both countries. According to Macron, Croatia, Portugal, Czechia, and Slovakia are dispatching Canadair water bombers, Air Tractors, and Black Hawk helicopters to bolster response efforts.
Sources: NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting), NRC.
Sources
Earlier coverage
- Jul 26, 2026, 01:30 AM UTCWildfire evacuations mount in France and Spain as flames approach Bordeaux
- 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