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Evacuations Across Southern Europe
Violent wildfires driven by wind and high temperatures forced mass evacuations across southern Europe on Friday, 24.07.2026, with Spain, France, and Italy all reporting escalating blazes.
“More than 200,000 people flee raging wildfires in France and Spain, some escaping by boat More than 200,000 people flee raging wildfires in France and Spain, some escaping by boat ARCACHON, France (AP) — Massive forest fires forced the evacuation of some 200,000 people in southwestern France and central Spain on Friday, with residents fleeing towns near Madrid and Bordeaux as the flames raged out of control”
In France, the AP reported that massive forest fires forced the evacuation of some 200,000 people in southwestern France and central Spain, with residents fleeing towns near Madrid and Bordeaux as flames raged out of control.
In Spain, the AP said the Spanish interior ministry reported 60,000 people were forced from their homes in central Spain, while the French interior ministry said 141,000 fled homes in the Gironde and Landes departments.
French Interior minister Laurent Nunez told French TV channel Tf1 that the wildfire that forced evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula had swept across 140 square kilometers, with 110,000 people fleeing their homes in the Gironde region.
The DW report said Spain’s government decreed a national emergency of reach in the region of Madrid and in the province of Ávila, and that in Madrid the fires had already caused the evacuation of 10.000 people.
EU Help and Political Voices
France requested activation of the European Union’s civil protection mechanism, and DW reported that Emmanuel Macron announced on X that “Pronto podremos contar con el refuerzo de dos Canadair croatas, dos Air Tractor portugueses y dos helicópteros pesados Black Hawk”.
The AP described Macron’s move as asking the Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to activate the government’s crisis response unit and instructing the armed forces to mobilize to provide maximum reinforcement to civilian emergency services.
In Spain, the AP quoted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez writing on X that “I want to send a message of support to the thousands of families who face a difficult night ahead,” as he planned to visit the fire-ravaged area on Saturday.
The Guardian’s live coverage said the French authorities formally requested activation of the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, and it quoted the EU’s crisis commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, confirming that “the EU is providing assistance and deploying 3 water bomber aircraft.”
Euronews reported that Macron said the situation remained “extremely tense,” and it added that the Gironde blaze had affected more than 8,700 hectares.
What’s at Risk Next
As fires spread toward Bordeaux and multiple blazes threatened to merge near Madrid, authorities warned that the situation could worsen, with the AP saying Nunez described the fire as “a large, self-sustaining fire that is extremely difficult to bring under control.”
“Out-of-control fires in France and Spain: more than 160,000 evacuations”
The Guardian reported that Nicanor Sen said there was “very little time left” before the fires could merge in Madrid and Ávila, while it also noted that the French authorities ordered evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula before 10am.
In Spain, the AP said the government declared a national emergency for wildfires for the first time as blazes in Madrid and the nearby province of Ávila prompted evacuation of some 60,000 people.
DW said the Spanish Interior Ministry’s emergency decision aimed to mobilize more resources to combat the fires, and it quoted the ministry explaining the choice was made “debido a la concurrencia de estos incendios, junto con unas condiciones meteorológicas especialmente adversas”.
In France, the AP reported that dozens of French firefighters were injured, while it said no deaths were reported in either country despite panic scenes as townsfolk fled by car and police went door to door.
