Huge wildfires are currently devastating regions in south-west France and central Spain, leading to the evacuation of approximately 200,000 individuals, including British tourists.
In France, the French interior ministry reported that about 141,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes in the Gironde and Landes departments. Some people had to flee by boat as wildfires engulfed the popular tourist area along France’s Atlantic coast.
In central Spain, the Spanish interior ministry stated that 60,000 people have been displaced from towns west of Madrid. The government has declared a national emergency for wildfires in the capital and the neighboring province of Ávila, marking the first such declaration in the country.
The Spanish Regional President Isabel Díaz-Ayuso described the wildfire near Madrid as the most severe in the capital’s history, prompting the evacuation of 60,000 individuals from towns to the west.
Two significant fires near Madrid merged into a single blaze, burning 11.5 square miles by Friday afternoon.
Francisco Martín, the central government representative for the Madrid region, indicated that an additional 20,000 residents have been instructed to stay home in towns west of the capital. He emphasized the need to safeguard San Lorenzo, which houses the Escorial, a historic royal palace and monastery built in the 16th century by Philip II.
Carlos Novillo, the emergency management chief of Madrid’s regional government, expressed concerns about the fire’s intensity, stating that it has surpassed current containment capabilities. Efforts are focused on protecting populated areas and reinforcing vulnerable areas due to an anticipated wind shift.
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