Wildfires force huge exodus in France and Spain
Unchecked wildfires in France and Spain have forced over 300,000 people to evacuate their homes as fire crews struggle against unpredictable winds. The situation in the Gironde region of France is described as historic, with massive areas of land destroyed and major infrastructure disrupted.
Why it matters
The increasing frequency and scale of wildfires highlight the growing threat of climate-driven natural disasters to European population centers.
Fire crews in France and Spain battling unchecked wildfires that have forced more than 300,000 people to flee were overwhelmed as the unpredictable blazes advanced.
France's southwestern city of Bordeaux, at the heart of a region of vineyards, was under threat, with a major highway and train lines cut.
In Spain more villages in the fire zone raging west of Madrid were emptied during the night -- and a new front opened near the coastal city of Valencia.
France was faced with "a historic situation", Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said late last night.
The fire in the southwest and resulting evacuation operation now rank among the biggest seen since World War II, authorities said, with more than 250,000 people ordered out of the danger zone.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez wrote on X that "the situation remains very unfavourable" for fires across France.
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