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Agadir – More than 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in France and Spain as powerful winds, extreme heat, and fast-moving flames continue to fuel widespread wildfires across both countries.
In France, firefighters are battling major blazes in the southwest, particularly in the Gironde and Landes regions, where flames have spread rapidly and threatened communities near Bordeaux.
Authorities have ordered around 250,000 people to evacuate, including 55,000 residents who were told to leave their homes late Saturday.
Firefighters described the situation as increasingly difficult, with Captain Nicolas Braz telling AFP that the fire had generated “its own winds,” creating whirlwinds and unpredictable conditions that made it “erratic and unmanageable.”
Strong winds pushed smoke toward Bordeaux on Saturday, with residents reporting a strong burning smell across parts of the city.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the country was facing a major test but praised the response efforts, saying: “In these hours when the flames are severely testing our country, France reveals what it is: a united people, standing shoulder to shoulder.”
Macron said all available resources had been mobilized, including firefighters, civil security forces, police, military personnel, and aerial firefighting equipment. “All civil and military resources are mobilized: civil security aerial resources, Canadair, Dash, water-bomber helicopters, reinforcements from across France,” he said.
The French president also thanked European countries that provided support, including Romania, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, describing the assistance as a reflection of European solidarity.
“Alongside the residents, all the affected families, the displaced whom we are thinking of, the Nation is fully committed,” Macron said, adding that France would “rebuild, we will repair, and we will be there as long as it takes.”
France has deployed military personnel to support firefighting operations, including efforts to clear vegetation and create firebreaks to slow the spread of flames.
Meanwhile, Spain has also been heavily affected by wildfires, with authorities declaring a state of emergency as several regions face severe fires.
More favorable weather conditions have helped firefighters make progress on some fronts, including areas near Madrid, but officials warned that difficult conditions remain.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed support for those affected, saying: “I want to send all my support to the thousands of people who are facing a very difficult night today, with evacuations and lockdowns to protect their lives.”
“All administrations are working in a coordinated manner to combat the fire and ensure the safety of the population,” Sánchez added.
Sánchez described the situation as “dramatic,” calling for unity and stronger action against climate-related risks. “It is also a time to accelerate the necessary agreements to address the climate emergency,” he said, warning that failure to act “puts lives, regions, and territories across our entire country at risk.”
