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France and Spain evacuate hundreds of thousands as wildfires spread
Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people in France and around 100,000 in Spain as officials warn another heatwave could worsen conditions later this week.
Firefighters in France and Spain have been battling major wildfires threatening the French city and tourist region of Bordeaux and sites across the border, with crews trying to take advantage of more favorable weather before another heatwave later this week, according to Reuters.
In France, authorities evacuated about 220,000 people, including holidaymakers and local residents. In Spain, around 100,000 people were told to leave their homes or seek shelter as the fires spread during a blisteringly hot and dry summer in western Europe.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the country is facing an unprecedented fire season, noting the area burned has already surpassed the previous record year of 2022. Lecornu added that nine out of 10 fires are human-caused, often linked to carelessness such as cigarette butts, barbecues, or work done without precautions, Reuters reported.
Reuters also reported that firefighters faced an especially dangerous situation in Vall d’Uixo in Spain, where old ordnance from the Spanish Civil War is in the ground and can explode when flames reach the area, according to a fire chief from the Valencian regional government speaking to public broadcaster TVE.