Over 250,000 people have been evacuated in Spain and France as wildfires continue to spread across both countries. In France's Gironde region, authorities ordered the evacuation of an additional 55,000 people, bringing the total number of evacuees to over 200,000. Spanish authorities also ordered the evacuation of eight more municipalities near Toledo. The fires have burned nearly 98,000 hectares in France alone, described as a 'historic record' by Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu warned that 'the coming hours could be difficult' in Gironde due to deteriorating weather forecasts. Three men were arrested in Gironde on suspicion of endangering lives, with two accused of setting off fireworks. Around 2,000 people remain displaced in France's southeastern Var department due to the Ponteves wildfire.
In Corsica, firefighters continue to battle a blaze near Corte, while authorities allowed 3,000 residents to return home in safe areas of Biscarrosse in the Landes department. France's President Emmanuel Macron vowed to rebuild affected areas, stating on X: 'We will rebuild, we will repair and we will be there for as long as is needed.'
A wildfire in Valencia, Spain, resulted in one fatality before being brought under control. France deployed an A400M military aircraft to assist in firefighting efforts, and the government ordered 500 more soldiers to the wildfire zone, bringing the total number deployed to 1,500. The Tour de France shortened its final stage due to the wildfires in southwest France.
The wildfires have forced the evacuation of more than 250,000 people in total, with 197,000 evacuated in France and 60,000 in Spain. The situation remains grave, with major blazes still not under control in Gironde and Landes.
