France and Spain race to control wildfires as more than 250,000 evacuated – live

Authorities in France and Spain have confirmed that over 267,000 residents are now displaced due to massive, uncontrolled wildfires. In France, 197,000 people have evacuated areas near Bordeaux, while 70,000 have fled villages located west of Madrid.

The scale of the emergency prompted France to deploy 1,500 soldiers to support local firefighters. These troops are assisting with logistics, evacuations, and the operation of specialized heavy equipment, including bulldozers and aerial firefighting units. The French interior ministry confirmed that an Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft is now participating in the containment efforts alongside 18 other planes.

Spain has taken the significant step of declaring a national emergency for the first time in response to wildfire activity. High winds are driving the spread of these fires, forcing road closures and creating complex conditions for emergency responders. Residents in several towns near Madrid and the Avila municipality remain under strict lockdown orders as officials urge the public to follow only official government updates to avoid misinformation.

European Union support is active, with the Copernicus emergency mapping service and multiple aircraft from the rescEU fleet redirected to bolster the response in both nations. Despite these combined efforts, the fires remain difficult to manage due to persistent heatwaves and severe drought conditions that have affected much of the region. Local officials emphasize that the situation is far from resolved as conditions on the ground remain volatile.