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Wildfires near Madrid and in southwestern France force over 80,000 to evacuate
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Large wildfires in southwestern France and central Spain have forced the evacuation of approximately 80,000 people, with some residents fleeing by boat from France’s Cap Ferret peninsula.
- The fires have consumed over 100 square kilometers near Cap Ferret and led to massive evacuations in the Gironde and Landes departments, with EU countries providing firefighting reinforcements to France and Spain.
- Spain declared a national emergency for wildfires for the first time, as multiple fires near Madrid and Ávila have displaced around 20,000 people amid a severe heatwave and strong winds complicating firefighting efforts.
- Italy’s Sicily region is also battling intense wildfires, with high temperatures and dry conditions causing widespread damage and a firefighter fatality, while the broader Mediterranean region faces increasing wildfire risks due to climate change.
- Authorities attribute the fires to accidental causes and emphasize the growing threat of climate change, which is intensifying heat, dryness, and wildfire frequency across southern Europe.
