Kathmandu, July 26 — Devastating wildfires raging across France and Spain have forced more than 250,000 people to flee their homes, as extreme heat, strong winds, and dry conditions continue to fuel the flames.
In southwestern France, the wildfire has spread toward the city of Bordeaux, prompting authorities to evacuate residents from seven towns west of the city overnight. Officials said the blaze remains out of control and has expanded to within 40 to 50 kilometers of Bordeaux, with thick smoke reaching the city and affecting air quality.
Around 200,000 people have been evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions alone. France has deployed military personnel, firefighting aircraft, and ground crews to contain the fire by clearing vegetation and building firebreaks.
Several European Union member states have also joined the firefighting effort. Croatia has sent three Canadair water-bombing aircraft, Portugal has deployed two Air Tractor firefighting planes, while the Czech Republic and Slovakia have contributed Black Hawk helicopters. Romania has also dispatched a specialized wildfire response team.
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the EU has mobilized a total of 11 aircraft and helicopters from its joint civil protection fleet to assist France and Spain.
The wildfires have also disrupted the Tour de France, with organizers shortening the final stage of the race from 133 kilometers to 89 kilometers to allow emergency services to focus on firefighting operations.
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency meeting to address nearly 30 active wildfires across the country. The French government has described the situation as an unprecedented national crisis.
Meanwhile, Spain has declared a state of emergency as wildfires continue to spread across several regions. Although weather conditions have slightly improved around Madrid, authorities warned that the threat remains serious.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said difficult days still lie ahead and urged emergency services to take full advantage of the temporary improvement in weather to contain the fires.
Spain's Interior Ministry reported that around 60,000 people have been evacuated from the Madrid and Ávila regions, while more than 28,000 residents remain confined to their homes. Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described the disaster as the worst wildfire in the region's history.
So far this year, more than 130,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed by wildfires in Spain, exceeding the country's average annual loss over the past decade. In France, nearly 98,000 hectares have burned since the beginning of 2026.
Elsewhere in Europe, more than 350 wildfire incidents have been reported on the Italian island of Sicily, including ten major blazes, forcing further evacuations. Scotland has also declared an emergency as firefighters battle a wildfire that has been burning for ten consecutive days in the Cairngorms National Park.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib warned that wildfire damage across Europe could surpass all previous records this year. She noted that around one million hectares of forest were destroyed by wildfires across Europe last year, and the early arrival of this summer's extreme heat has significantly increased the risk of even greater destruction.
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