166,000 evacuated as wildfires spin out of control in France, Spain
Over 166,000 people have been evacuated in France and Spain as massive wildfires, exacerbated by drought and strong winds, rage near Bordeaux and Madrid. French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have mobilized military aid and sought EU assistance to combat the unprecedented blazes.
Why it matters
These widespread and intense wildfires represent a severe environmental crisis and humanitarian challenge in Europe, highlighting the increasing impact of climate change and extreme weather events on populated areas and natural resources. The scale of the evacuations underscores the immediate danger to communities.
Over 166,000 people were evacuated in France and Spain as unprecedented forest fires raged near Madrid and Bordeaux, a French city flanked by tourist havens and world-renowned vineyards.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (July 24, 2026) asked the army to mobilise to help contain the worst wildfire the country has ever seen after seeking European Union help, as a local official warned the blaze was heading towards Bordeaux.
Some 44,000 people fled the upmarket Cap Ferret peninsula south of Bordeaux on the Atlantic coast, with the only road threatened by flames.
Boats moved hundreds of people away from the fires, while others drove off the peninsula, known for its millionaire residences. More than 50 houses there have been destroyed.
At least 141,000 people have been evacuated in southwestern France and 25,000 in the Madrid region, among them more than 1,200 elderly and disabled people, French and Spanish officials said.
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