Wildfires burning for several days in southwestern France and central Spain have forced hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes and tourist areas. The latest toll reported by authorities points to around 300,000 evacuations, while conditions on the ground remain unstable and pressure on state structures has risen significantly.
Mass evacuations in two countries
According to figures reported by the authorities, more than 200,000 people have been evacuated in France, while more than 70,000 have been evacuated in Spain. The flames have hit not only residential areas but also tourist zones, forcing immediate departures at the height of the season.
In many areas of southwestern France, residents and tourists have been told to leave without delay because of the risk from the spread of the fire and thick smoke. Some of these areas have been almost completely emptied.
Spain declares emergency, France deploys the army
In Spain, a national state of emergency has been declared, a clear sign of the scale the situation has reached. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has warned of difficult hours ahead, while the battle against the flames remains far from over.
In France, the government has deployed thousands of soldiers to support operations on the ground. It has also distributed 1.5 million masks for protection from smoke, showing that the danger is linked not only to the flames but also to severe air pollution.
One dead in Valencia, several injured
Spanish authorities have so far reported one death in Valencia. Several others have been rushed to hospital with burns and breathing problems.
This toll remains preliminary and reflects only the data made public so far by official structures, while the fire fronts remain active.
Help from several European countries
With capacities under strain, France and Spain have also received help from other European countries. Helicopters from Portugal, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Switzerland are taking part in operations against the flames.
The involvement of international assistance underlines the scale of the crisis, at a moment when both countries are facing a situation that local authorities are not managing with ordinary resources alone.
The fight against the fires continues in both countries, while the number of those displaced and the human cost of this wave of wildfires continue to rise.
So far, the official version speaks of hundreds of thousands of evacuations and a situation that remains open, with no clear signs of rapid stabilisation.