Wildfires in France and Spain force tens of thousands to evacuate
11 reported
Wildfires continued to rage through parts of France and Spain on Friday, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate and authorities to ask European Union neighbors for help. French authorities ordered the total evacuation of the tourist Cap Ferret peninsula off the Atlantic coast, with many boarding boats to flee. In Spain, two fires converged near the capital, Madrid, with authorities declaring a national emergency, the first over a wildfire. Over 60,000 people evacuated the area in and around Cap Ferret as the blaze consumed some 100 square kilometers of land. Spanish authorities declared a national emergency on Thursday in the Madrid region and the Avila province. French President Emmanuel Macron said the country will receive EU reinforcements to help put out the blaze, after calling for the neighbors’ help.
What’s reported
Wildfires continued in parts of France and Spain on Friday.
French authorities ordered total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula.
Over 60,000 people evacuated in and around Cap Ferret; the blaze consumed about 100 square kilometers.
In Spain, two fires converged near Madrid; authorities declared a national emergency.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said a fire in Saumos was the largest so far this season in France.
Some 1,500 evacuees from Cap Ferret arrived in Arcachon by sea.
In Gironde department, 40,000 people evacuated; 23,000 more in Landes department.
In Madrid region, about 40,000 people evacuated or confined; over 19,000 ordered to evacuate from mountain towns.
Spanish authorities deployed over 2,000 personnel and 10 aircraft.
A third fire in Avila province was about to merge with the other fires, or may have already done so.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X about a “dramatic situation.”
Key figures
Laurent Nunez, French Interior Minister
Laurent Moretti, resident in Ares
Emmanuel Macron, French President
Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spanish Interior Minister
Nicanor Sen, government representative for Castile and Leon region
Javier Martin, local resident
Pedro Sánchez, Spanish Prime Minister
Sources: dw.com
