Over 200,000 flee as wildfires ravage France and Spain
Massive wildfires force mass evacuations in France and Spain, with Spain declaring a national emergency and France ordering a total evacuation of Cap Ferret.
More than 200,000 people have either fled or been ordered to lock down as huge wildfires swept across France and Spain on Friday, prompting Madrid to declare a national emergency and French authorities to order the complete evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, a renowned holiday destination on the Atlantic coast.
France: Cap Ferret under siege
In southwestern France, authorities ordered the evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula “village by village” as an “intense, highly unpredictable” wildfire consumed over 19,000 hectares of pine forest. The Gironde prefecture reported that more than 110,000 people had been evacuated in two days, including thousands of tourists from campsites and rental homes. Boats ferried hundreds off the peninsula’s piers as flames threatened to cut off the only access road.
About 800 firefighters and four water-bombing planes battled the blaze, which began Wednesday near the village of Saumos, 25 miles west of Bordeaux. Despite their efforts, the fire remained unstabilized. Eighty homes had burned. Jean Mazodier, 86, a forest owner who was evacuated from his home, told Le Monde: “I’ve seen plenty of fires before, but never one of this intensity. Everything’s burned. It’s like losing a child.”
A second fire near the resort of Biscarrosse burned through over 2,500 hectares, forcing 31,000 people to leave. Landes prefect Gilles Clavreul said more than 600 firefighters struggled to contain that blaze, noting “a great many new fire starts ahead of the main blaze.”
Spain declares national emergency
Spain’s government declared its first national emergency for a wildfire as two large blazes merged near Madrid, with a third threatening to join them. Searing heat and tinder-dry conditions across southern Europe fueled the infernos. Madrid’s regional leader, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, called it “the worst wildfire in our region’s history,” describing “an unprecedented situation: a perfect storm of extremely high temperatures and relentless winds.” Both countries activated EU civil protection mechanisms for assistance.
Climate context and response
Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such disasters to climate breakdown. Europe is heating at roughly twice the global average rate, evaporating soils and fueling wildfires. France has endured three near-consecutive heatwaves since May. President Emmanuel Macron activated the EU’s civil protection mechanism as the country battled numerous fires. The flames, reaching up to 10 meters high, tore through coastal pine forests in parched conditions and strong winds.
Ongoing battle and outlook
Firefighters continued to battle the Gironde blaze north of Arcachon Bay, with numerous roads closed, including those to Cap Ferret, home to many villas owned by celebrities and millionaires. In 2022, a wildfire burned over 30,000 hectares in France’s southwest, forcing 50,000 evacuations. The current fires, though fierce, highlight the escalating threat as Europe braces for more extreme weather. The situation remains dynamic, with authorities urging vigilance as temperatures stay high and winds persist.