Emma Da Silva

A rapidly spreading wildfire in France’s Gironde region forced roughly 220,000 people from their homes as shifting winds and dry conditions pushed the flames toward Bordeaux. Thousands of firefighters, supported by aircraft, helicopters, soldiers and crews from other European countries, battled the blaze, which had burned an area several times the size of Paris and destroyed hundreds of homes. Additional evacuations occurred in southern France and Spain, where wildfires also threatened communities. Emergency shelters housed evacuees, including elderly residents moved from care homes, while officials warned that extreme heat and unpredictable fire behavior could prolong the crisis.

Wildfires in southern Europe forced more than 250,000 people to evacuate, including about 70,000 in central Spain, while at least one person died in Manises near Valencia. France deployed a military cargo plane, firefighters, soldiers and other emergency resources to battle a major blaze near Bordeaux, while authorities evacuated communities and warned that shifting winds could worsen conditions. Spain sent hundreds of firefighters, police and aircraft to fires west of Madrid, where residents described flames surrounding their homes. Record heat, drought and strong winds intensified the fires, prompting assistance from several European countries.