Authorities in France and Spain ordered the evacuation of more than 250,000 people as emergency crews continued to fight several large wildfires on Thursday. In southwestern France, officials in the Gironde and Landes regions expanded evacuation orders as a fire approached the city of Bordeaux. The French government deployed a large cargo aircraft to drop flame retardants over the affected wine-growing regions to assist ground crews.
In Spain, regional authorities reported significant fire activity near Madrid, prompting additional evacuations in suburban and rural areas. Emergency services in both countries reported that high temperatures and dry conditions have hampered containment efforts. No official tally of property damage or casualties has been finalized as operations remain active.
The evacuations come amid a period of high heat across Western Europe. National weather agencies in both France and Spain issued warnings regarding the fire risk, citing a lack of rainfall and sustained wind speeds. Local municipalities have established temporary shelters for those displaced by the orders.