Tens of thousands evacuated as French, Spanish fires rage
Massive wildfires in France and Spain have forced the evacuation of over 250,000 people as authorities struggle to contain the blazes. Both nations have requested European Union assistance to combat the unprecedented fire conditions.
Why it matters
The scale of these wildfires highlights the increasing threat of extreme weather events and the necessity of international cooperation in emergency management.
Out-of-control wildfires raging in France and Spain have forced the evacuation of more than 250,000 people in total, authorities in both countries have said.
The French government said that 197,000 people were evacuated because of wildfires near Bordeaux, in southwest France.
The Spanish interior ministry said a total of 70,000 people were evacuated from villages west of Madrid, while one man died in Manises, Valencia.
Spanish officials said the man was found in a car in a ravine.
Both countries are facing unprecedented blazes that are spreading unchecked despite the efforts of many hundreds of firefighters backed by water-dropping aircraft.
French President Emmanuel Macron asked the army to mobilise to help contain the worst wildfire the country has ever seen after seeking European Union help.
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