Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced from their homes across France and Spain as fast-moving wildfires continue to spread.
One person has died in Spain, while flames advance towards the outskirts of Bordeaux in southwestern France.
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The fires have triggered mass evacuations in both countries and are the latest natural disasters linked to prolonged dry spells and successive heatwaves that many scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.
“The fires that are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before,” French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu wrote on X.
So far this July, high temperatures have averaged 32.2C in the region of France hit by the fires, which is 7.3C above the month’s average high between 1961 and 1990, according to data on Reuters Climate Monitor.
“We expect a fight that will be long and very difficult,” Interior Minister Laurent Nunez later told reporters.
“We expect a fight that will be long and very difficult,” French minister Laurent Nunez says. (EPA PHOTO) Credit: AAP
France’s armed forces have been deployed to help overwhelmed firefighting crews.
On Saturday afternoon, an A400M military transport aircraft, the largest in France’s fleet, joined the effort, dumping fire retardant over burning forest as flames spread.
Thick smoke billowed from the advancing wall of flames, leaving charred homes in its wake.
About 197,000 people have fled the Gironde and Landes departments close to Bordeaux since the wildfires broke out there this week.
French Interior Minister Nunez said the flames were about 30km from Bordeaux.
The government has warned against road or rail travel to the area.
Bordeaux airport remained open, but train and bus links to it were affected, it said on its website.
The coast near Bordeaux is a tourist hotspot which includes pine forests that can catch fire easily.
The city is also famous for its vineyards and world-renowned wines.
Hundreds of thousands have fled as deadly wildfires tear through France and Spain. Credit: Sunrise
Spain declares national emergency
Three blazes near Madrid, two of which merged on Friday, prompted Spain to declare its first national emergency over a wildfire.
A smaller brush fire outside coastal Valencia, which began and was extinguished on Saturday, caused the death of an elderly man in his car, the interior ministry said.
In Spain, about 88,000 people have either been evacuated or ordered to remain in their homes because of the three major fires.
Spain’s Civil Protection Service said four more water-bombing aircraft — two from Italy and two from Greece — were expected to join the firefighting effort as part of a European Union response.
Firefighting aircraft from the Netherlands and Portugal have already been deployed in Spain.
Many Madrid residents have second homes in the area west of the capital where the two fires merged, which is still in the administrative region of Madrid.
A third fire in Avila province has threatened to merge with the two in Madrid.
Strong winds have stoked and spread the fires in both countries.
Complicating efforts to contain the blazes, one firefighters’ union in Madrid is on strike, although the impact on frontline firefighting numbers appears to be minimal.
Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia warned people to avoid spending time outdoors in Madrid because of the smoke.
“Avoid physical activity and staying outdoors. If you go outdoors and there is smoke or ash, use a mask,” she said on X.
– Reuters.
