Unchecked wildfires in France's southwest and near Spain's capital Madrid have forced 267,000 people to flee, prompting Paris to deploy its military. France evacuated 197,000 people around Bordeaux, likely the biggest peacetime evacuation. In Spain, 70,000 people were evacuated from villages west of Madrid. No civilian deaths have been reported, but two French firefighters died near Bordeaux.
The sky over Madrid was covered by a haze of brown-grey smoke, and thick black ash coated roof terraces in the center north of the city. Residents were forced to keep their windows closed due to the irritating smoke. Jacqueline Villafranca, a 38-year-old evacuee, described the harrowing experience as smoke filled her village of Navalagamella.
Overstretched firefighters in both countries have been battling the infernos around the clock for days. Authorities in both countries suggested that the intensity of some blazes had decreased, though the fires continue to pose a significant threat. The fires advanced quickly due to tinderbox conditions worsened by successive heatwaves since May.
Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and severity of such weather emergencies to global warming. Europe, the fastest-warming continent due to climate change, is particularly vulnerable. Both France and Spain are receiving EU help in the form of firefighting aircraft from other European countries.
France has deployed 1,000 soldiers to assist firefighters near Bordeaux, and an A400M military transport aircraft modified to release fire retardant has been ordered to join the firefighting efforts. Emergency shelters have been set up in schools and gymnasiums for evacuees. The massive smoke clouds from the fires in France and Spain are starting to connect in the atmosphere, according to satellite images.
