Spain Declares National Emergency Over Wildfires Amid Europe Heatwave
Spain has declared a national emergency for the first time due to severe wildfires, while France has requested EU assistance to combat blazes fueled by a European heatwave. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated across both countries as emergency services struggle to contain the fires.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Europe highlight the growing impact of climate change on public safety and infrastructure.
Spain declared a national emergency over wildfires for the first time on Friday, and France asked for help from the European Union to tackle a blaze on the Atlantic coast as searing heat fueled fires across Europe and forced tens of thousands of evacuations.French authorities ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, a tourism hotspot, due to a large wildfire. Some 40,000 people were evacuated from the area, many brought to safety by boat, officials said.In Spain, more than 10,000 people were evacuated from towns in the mountains west of the capital, Madrid, as three fires in the region and neighbouring Avila province prompted the government to declare a national emergency, which allows it to take charge of coordinating the response.It was the first time such a measure has been taken due to a wildfire.
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