Europe wildfires force 200,000 from homes in France and Spain
9 reported
Wildfires in western France and central Spain have forced approximately 200,000 people to evacuate, according to authorities. Firefighters report the blazes are the largest recorded in both countries in recent years and cannot be tackled head on. In France, more than 140,000 people have been evacuated from the Gironde and Landes departments, including 44,000 from the Cap Ferret peninsula. In Spain, the Interior Ministry says 60,000 have been forced to flee. The European Commission is sending three firefighting aircraft to France and four to Spain. The fires have injured dozens of firefighters and killed three — two in western France and one in Sicily, Italy.
What’s reported
Approximately 200,000 people have been forced to flee wildfires in western France and central Spain.
French authorities report more than 140,000 evacuated in the Gironde and Landes departments.
Spain’s Interior Ministry says 60,000 have been forced to flee.
The European Commission is sending three firefighting aircraft to France and four to Spain.
The fires have injured dozens of firefighters and killed three: two in western France and one in Sicily, Italy.
French authorities say the country’s two main blazes were sparked accidentally.
In Spain, the government has declared a national emergency as two of three current fires near Madrid merged into one.
NASA evacuated its Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex due to the fires.
Spain has lost 1,140 square kilometers (440 square miles) to fires this year, more than five times the area burnt in the first half of 2025.
Key figures
Laurent Nunez, French Interior Minister
Emmanuel Macron, French President
Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Prime Minister
Sources: dw.com
