Devastating wildfires send 267,000 fleeing in France and Spain
Massive wildfires in France and Spain have forced the evacuation of 267,000 people, marking one of the largest peacetime evacuations in the region. Firefighters are struggling to contain the blazes, though authorities report a slight decrease in intensity.
Why it matters
The scale of these evacuations highlights the increasing threat of extreme climate events to European infrastructure and public safety.
France hustled 197,000 people from areas around Bordeaux - including vacation spots crowded this time of year - in what was "probably" the biggest peacetime evacuation the country has seen, its interior minister said.
Castilla-y-Leon unit's firefighters battle a fire in a forest next to La Atalaya residential area in El Tiemblo, 80km west of Madrid, on Jul 25, 2026 amid wildfires that have burned up to 25,000ha. (Photo: AFP/Cesar Manso)
BORDEAUX: Unchecked wildfires raging on Saturday (Jul 25) in France's southwest and near Spain's capital Madrid have forced 267,000 people to flee and prompted Paris to deploy its military.
In Spain, where 70,000 people were evacuated from villages west of Madrid, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the priority was "to save lives" as he visited the fire zone.
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