More than 300,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain as massive wildfires continued to rage on Sunday, with authorities warning that worsening weather conditions could intensify the crisis.
The fires, which have burned unchecked for several days in southwestern France near Bordeaux and in central Spain close to Madrid, are among the most severe both countries have experienced in peacetime.
French authorities described the wildfire near Bordeaux as highly unpredictable, fuelled by extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds.
The blaze has also generated a rare pyrocumulonimbus cloud — a massive fire-induced storm capable of creating its own winds and triggering additional fires through lightning, according to the National Firefighters Federation of France (FNSPF).
FNSPF spokesperson Eric Brocardi likened the firefighting effort to a “David-versus-Goliath” battle, saying emergency responders were searching for opportunities to contain the advancing flames.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that the country faced “difficult hours” despite progress in containing some wildfires. A new fire near the eastern city of Valencia forced about 15,000 residents to evacuate.
Several European Union countries have deployed aircraft, firefighters and emergency equipment to support firefighting efforts in both nations.
Scientists have linked the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to climate change, noting that prolonged heatwaves and below-average rainfall have left forests exceptionally dry.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 250,000 people had been evacuated nationwide, with the Gironde region accounting for the majority of displaced residents.
He described the main wildfire near Bordeaux as “extremely intense and unpredictable”, warning that it continued to advance erratically towards the metropolitan area.
Authorities said at least 240 homes had been destroyed, many of them in the village of Le Porge. However, Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave said there were no immediate plans to evacuate the city, adding that the fire was not currently advancing directly towards its urban centre.
The Gironde regional prefect, Sophie Brocas, urged tourists to avoid the area and consider alternative destinations.
More than 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel and 1,200 police officers have been deployed to combat the blaze in the region.
Police also reported the arrest of a suspected looter accused of stealing 44 bottles of premium wine from an evacuated home in Eysines, on the outskirts of Bordeaux.
In Spain, authorities said approximately 75,000 people had been evacuated from affected areas, including Madrid, Ávila, Toledo and the Valencia region.
Officials warned that shifting winds were pushing the fires towards additional communities, prompting fresh evacuation orders.
King Felipe VI, during a visit to an emergency shelter, described the destruction caused by the fires as “incalculable” and expressed solidarity with affected communities.
The only civilian fatality reported so far occurred near Valencia on Saturday, while France has confirmed the deaths of two firefighters who were killed battling the Bordeaux wildfire earlier in the week.
Pope Leo IV also expressed solidarity with those affected, offering prayers for victims and emergency responders battling the devastating wildfires.
