Spain Declares Emergency as Wildfires Force Tens of Thousands to Flee
Spain declared a national emergency on Friday as wildfires raged across the country, while on the French Atlantic coast fresh mass evacuations drove holidaymakers from their homes — some fleeing by boat. Together the fires in Spain and south-western France have forced tens of thousands to flee, with both governments requesting help from fellow European Union states. Temperatures reached 44C in southern Spain.
Around 10,000 people were evacuated in the Madrid region, where the government handed the response to its military emergency unit, while near Cap Ferret on France’s Atlantic coast a blaze burning since Wednesday has scorched more than 12,000 hectares and driven out tens of thousands. This summer has burned the second-largest area on record across the European Union. Two firefighters were killed near Bordeaux earlier in the week. For the many Britons holidaying along the French and Spanish coasts, the fires and extreme heat are a direct hazard. Watch the EU response and whether the heat eases this weekend.