Mass evacuations and state of emergency as wildfires engulf France and Spain
French authorities mobilise the military as flames approach Bordeaux, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declares a national emergency amid worsening conditions.
More than 250,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain as severe wildfires, exacerbated by strong winds and high temperatures, continue to challenge containment efforts. In south-west France, approximately 200,000 residents in the Gironde and Landes regions were displaced as flames advanced toward the city of Bordeaux. French officials have stated they are far from bringing the blazes under control, with the fire front situated 40km to 50km from the city centre, though smoke and ash have already affected local air quality.
The scale of the crisis has prompted the mobilisation of the French military, with army reinforcements deployed to clear brush and establish fire breaks. Seven towns west of Bordeaux were ordered to evacuate overnight. In response to the escalating situation, France has activated the EU civil protection mechanism, securing international aid that includes water bombers from Croatia and Portugal, helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and a forest fire team from Romania.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared a state of emergency as the government grapples with 130,000 hectares of land burned this year, a figure that already exceeds the ten-year annual average. While improved weather conditions near Madrid have provided a temporary window of opportunity for firefighters, Sánchez warned of complex hours ahead, citing persistent wind and the threat of thunderstorms. The regional government in Madrid described the situation as the worst in the region’s history, with nearly 60,000 people evacuated from the Madrid and Ávila regions.
The disruption to civil life and security operations has been significant. The final stage of the Tour de France was shortened from 133km to 89km to allow security forces to be redeployed to wildfire-affected areas. A fatality was confirmed in Valencia, where a man in his 70s was found dead in his vehicle in the Salt de l'Aigua ravine. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that 98,000 hectares have burned across France since the beginning of 2026.
EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib cautioned that wildfire damage in Europe is likely to surpass previous records, noting that the fire season began earlier than usual. With forecasters predicting further heatwaves, Lahbib indicated that more outbreaks are expected as the summer progresses. The European Commission confirmed that 11 additional aircraft and helicopters have been dispatched from the EU’s firefighting fleet to support operations in France and Spain.
