Wildfires in Spain and France force evacuation of 200,000 people
Massive, uncontained wildfires in France and Spain have forced the evacuation of over 250,000 people as flames ravage tens of thousands of hectares. Authorities are struggling to contain the blazes, which are being exacerbated by erratic winds and extreme conditions.
Why it matters
The scale of these wildfires highlights the increasing threat of climate-driven natural disasters to populated areas and infrastructure in Europe.
France has appealed for international help, while Spain has declared a national emergency.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info A firefighter sprays water in a burning forest in the Lege-Cap-Ferret region, western France, on July 24, 2026 [Caroline Blumberg/AP] By AFP and AP Published On 25 Jul 2026 25 Jul 2026 More than 250,000 people have been forced from their homes and holiday resorts in the face of massive, uncontained wildfires in France and Spain.
Spanish firefighters hoped to get control of wildfires raging near capital Madrid on Saturday, but an official warned that erratic winds threatened to fan the blazes further, as thick grey smoke filled the sky west of the city.
Carlos Novillo, the Madrid regional government’s emergency management chief, said the wildfire near the capital was “at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain”.
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