Fire crews in France and Spain are tackling severe wildfires that have led to the evacuation of over 300,000 people. In France’s Gironde region, overnight orders required evacuations in five more localities. This massive operation, one of the largest since World War II, has seen over 250,000 people leave their homes in one region alone.
A firefighter from the Paris Fire Brigade uses a shovel to deal with smoldering debris in Marcheprime, west of Bordeaux, where a wildfire has raged since July 22.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the situation as highly challenging, with the fire creating its own winds and moving unpredictably towards Bordeaux. By Sunday morning, the burned area spanned 162 square miles. This is seven times larger than Manhattan and four times the size of Paris. Firefighters are diligently working to halt the flames, supported by aircraft dropping water and fire retardants. Soldiers and additional equipment from other European nations have arrived to assist.
In Spain, fires near Madrid forced further evacuations overnight. Additionally, a new fire front emerged near Valencia. Valencia’s regional president, Juanfran Perez Llorca, indicated that the situation was beyond local control. Central government delegate Pilar Bernabe noted intense conditions as efforts continued to combat the blaze.
A picture shows the remains of a house destroyed by fire near Pelayos de la Presa, west of Madrid.
This week, wildfires in Spain led to 116,000 people evacuating their homes. Tragically, a man died during a fire near Valencia, marking the first recorded fatality in these ongoing blazes.