Wildfires continued to burn across Western Europe over the weekend, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes in France and Spain, as persistent heat waves exacerbate the dangerous conditions. Fire crews have been battling the blazes for several days.
In Spain, the first death attributed to the recent wildfires was reported on Saturday. A 78-year-old man was found dead in his car in Manises, near Valencia. Several major fire fronts impacting Madrid and Ávila were reported as contained by Sunday morning by Spain’s Military Emergencies Unit, though they remained active. The risk of further wildfires is expected to increase in the coming days as temperatures rise, according to Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet.
France experienced significant evacuations, particularly in the southwestern region. Approximately 55,000 people were ordered to leave villages near Bordeaux, including Le Barp, Marcheprime, Biganos, Mios, and Cestas, overnight on Saturday. In recent days, more than 250,000 people in southwestern France have been forced to evacuate.
In the Gironde region of France, at least 240 homes have been destroyed as of Sunday. A fire spread to within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of Bordeaux’s metropolitan area and about 25 to 30 kilometers (15 to 18 miles) from the city center. Officials in Bordeaux are assessing the situation but have stated there are no immediate plans to evacuate the city itself.
Overall, more than 300,000 people have been evacuated due to wildfires in France and Spain. The ongoing heat waves have contributed to the severity and spread of the fires across the region. The fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and continue to threaten populated areas, necessitating large-scale emergency responses.