Flames are escalating in France and Spain, with the number of evacuees now exceeding 130,000 people. According to authorities in both countries, the situation is among the worst recorded so far and has prompted a request for assistance from the European Union.
France under pressure, thousands removed from the southwest
In France, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that 110,000 people have been evacuated from southwestern areas, where the fires have burned more than 14,000 hectares of land.
According to the official account, this is a situation without precedent on this scale, while around 50 firefighters were reported injured while battling the flames on Friday.
Risk moves toward Bordeaux, airport closes
French authorities warn that the fires are moving eastward, threatening the Bordeaux metropolitan area.
Against this backdrop, Bordeaux Airport has been closed, a clear sign that the emergency has spread beyond forest fronts and is affecting key infrastructure.
Cap Ferret emptied after emergency alert
The entire Cap Ferret peninsula, on the Atlantic coast, has been evacuated after an emergency alert was sent to tourists.
The area is known as one of the destinations frequented by French holidaymakers and well-known international figures, making the scale of the crisis even more visible.
Spain also on alert: more than 25,000 evacuated
In Spain, according to authorities, more than 25,000 people have been evacuated and more than 20,000 others are in isolation because of the spread of the fires.
Spanish authorities say they are trying to prevent the fire in Avila from merging with those in Madrid, but acknowledge that the situation remains complex and that evacuations are expected to continue.
Two fire fronts merged near Madrid
On Friday afternoon, two fires west of Madrid merged, further worsening the situation near the Spanish capital.
The request for assistance from the European Union shows that local authorities are no longer coping with this crisis alone, while the fires continue to advance on several fronts at the same time.
The toll so far points to an emergency of rare proportions in two key countries of southwestern Europe.
Beyond the official statements, the evacuation and injury figures, along with the closure of infrastructure, show that the crisis is deepening at a rapid pace.