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Hundreds of thousands evacuated in France and Spain as wildfires rage on
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Over 320,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain due to widespread wildfires, with southwestern France's Gironde department seeing 220,000 people displaced and 42,000 hectares burned.
- In Gironde, 2,750 firefighters, supported by 1,500 soldiers, 1,440 police officers, and 18 aerial firefighting units, are battling the fire, which has injured 88 firefighters and led to bans on summer camps and holiday stays for vulnerable groups.
- Farmers in southwestern France are assisting firefighting efforts by providing water tanks and local terrain knowledge, though authorities emphasize the need for organized collaboration rather than individual initiatives.
- In Spain, 76,000 people have been evacuated and 30,000 confined at home due to fires near Madrid, Valencia, and Ávila, with one fatality reported in Manises; some evacuees are beginning to return as flames are gradually brought under control.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez plans to visit affected areas in Valencia, acknowledging ongoing challenges but noting recent progress in controlling the fires.
