France and Spain declare civil emergencies as wildfires threaten Bordeaux and Avila

France and Spain are grappling with an unprecedented escalation in wildfire activity, forcing the evacuation of approximately 300,000 people across both nations. In southwest France, flames have advanced to within 15 kilometres of Bordeaux, prompting partial evacuations in surrounding municipalities such as Marcheprime and Cestas, though the city itself remains under threat. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the situation as unprecedented, noting that the fire is not under control and moving towards the city area.

In Spain, the Avila region experienced its worst wildfire in recent history, with over 50,000 hectares burned. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared a civil protection emergency for affected central provinces, including Avila, Madrid, and Toledo. The disasters, linked to prolonged drought and heatwaves intensified by climate change, have triggered international aid, including aircraft from Greece, Italy, and Turkey, and military support from Portugal.

Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave stated there are no plans to evacuate the city, which has a metropolitan population of about 850,000. However, Nuñez told France 2 TV that the overall situation is very unfavourable and that authorities would continue to assess the situation calmly and realistically. Police went door-to-door overnight in the municipalities of Marcheprime and Cestas, evacuating residents one home at a time.

In Spain, a separate blaze in Castellon province has ravaged over 4,300 hectares, entering the Sierra de Espadan natural park. More than 150,000 hectares have burned across Spain since January, which is six times the area destroyed during the same period last year. Sanchez said his government would on Tuesday declare a civil protection emergency for the central provinces plagued by the wildfires, unlocking additional recovery funding.

While wildfires have long been a feature of Spain's summers, Sanchez said their growing scale and intensity, fuelled by increasingly extreme weather, required policies grounded in climate science. In the highlands of Scotland, as many as 500 firefighters have been dealing with a large blaze within Cairngorms National Park since July 15. Residents of the village of Nethy Bridge, who were evacuated on Friday evening after a change in the weather conditions, were allowed to return to their homes late on Saturday.

In Italy, several bush fires forced the closure for several hours of a southern section of the Rome ring road as well as of a motorway leading into the capital, causing major traffic disruption. In Italy's southern Puglia region, tourists were evacuated from seaside resorts due to a large wildfire in the Gargano area, the national fire department said. Some were taken away via sea by the coast guard, the ANSA news agency added.

Pope Leo, speaking from his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo outside Rome, offered spiritual support. "In light of the devastating wildfires that have affected various areas of France and Spain in recent days, I wish to express my solidarity and closeness, and I invite everyone to pray for those affected and for the rescue workers engaged in relief efforts," he said.