More than 250,000 flee wildfires in France and Spain

What the report says

Nile Post, citing BBC reporting, says more than 250,000 people have been displaced by major wildfires in France and Spain, where heat and strong winds have complicated efforts to control blazes burning for several days. In south-western France, seven towns west of Bordeaux were ordered to evacuate overnight as fires advanced in the Gironde and Landes regions.

French authorities have evacuated about 200,000 people in the affected south-western areas and deployed military support to assist firefighters, including clearing vegetation and building fire breaks. Officials said the main fire remained roughly 40km to 50km from Bordeaux on Saturday morning, while smoke was being blown toward the city. President Emmanuel Macron was expected to convene an emergency meeting as the government described dozens of fires across France as an unprecedented situation.

In Spain, a state of emergency has been declared, and nearly 60,000 people have been evacuated from the Madrid and Ávila regions, according to the Interior Ministry figures cited in the report. Authorities in València confirmed that a man, believed to be in his 70s, died in a fire in Manises. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned of difficult conditions ahead, though regional officials near Madrid said lower temperatures, increased humidity and reduced winds had helped firefighting efforts.

The fires have also disrupted public life, with the final stage of the Tour de France shortened so security personnel could be redirected to emergency response. The report adds that the European Union has mobilised firefighting aircraft, helicopters and teams for France and Spain, as officials warn that Europe’s wildfire season may set further damaging records.