Southwestern Europe is grappling with massive wildfires as flames advance on Bordeaux in France and threaten Madrid and central regions in Spain. Extreme heat, drought, and strong winds have fueled the disaster, reports infohub.kz.
In France, the most critical situation is in the southwestern Gironde department. According to AP News, an uncontrolled fire has come within about 15 kilometers of Bordeaux. Around 220,000 people have been evacuated in Gironde. Another 30,000 residents left their homes due to a separate blaze in the Landes department. Authorities closed roads and restricted movement in dangerous areas, fearing the fire's spread.
Reuters reports that strong winds and dry vegetation are complicating the situation. French authorities have deployed additional resources, including military support, to fight the fires.
In Spain, the worst damage is in the central part of the country. The main hotspots are west of Madrid, in the province of Avila (Castile and Leon autonomous community) and other regions with high fire risk.
According to Reuters, about 30,000 people have been evacuated near Madrid, and another 20,000 have been ordered to stay home due to smoke and fire threat. The burned area exceeds 9,000 hectares, and wind gusts up to 60 km/h hinder firefighters. Overall, three major wildfires in Spain have affected some 88,000 people, including evacuees and those under movement restrictions.
Earlier, Spain declared a national state of emergency due to the scale of the fires. European countries are sending firefighting equipment and aircraft to both nations to assist in extinguishing the blazes.
This summer, extreme heat has blanketed Europe, with several countries setting new historical temperature records.