Firefighters struggle to contain Madrid wildfires, as more than 140,000 evacuated in France and Spain
Severe wildfires in France and Spain have forced the evacuation of over 140,000 people as fire fronts merge near Madrid. Officials have declared a national emergency in Spain, noting that the intensity of the blazes has exceeded the containment capacity of local emergency services.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the increasing frequency and severity of climate-driven natural disasters in Europe, posing significant challenges to emergency management and public safety infrastructure.
Figure caption, Watch: Wildfires rage across France and Spain
A wildfire near Madrid is "beyond the capacity" of firefighters to contain, Spanish officials have warned, after three fires west of the capital merged into a single blaze.
Spain's government has declared a national emergency after blazes spun out of control in several areas close to Madrid, prompting the evacuation of at least 30,000 people.
Madrid's regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described it as the "worst fire in the history of the region", with the area facing a "perfect storm" of high temperatures, relentless wind and merging fire fronts.
Meanwhile, more than 110,000 people have been evacuated in south-west France after wildfires tore through the Gironde and Landes regions.
The fire changed direction later on Friday and was heading towards Bordeaux, with further evacuations expected. French President Emmanuel Macron has mobilised the military to assist the response.
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