Severe heatwaves and prolonged dry weather have fueled devastating wildfires across several European countries, prompting Spain to declare its first-ever national state of emergency due to wildfires. At the same time, France has sought urgent assistance from the European Union (EU) after massive fires along its Atlantic coast spiraled out of control.
On France’s popular summer holiday destination, the Cap Ferret Peninsula, advancing flames and thick smoke reached residential areas, forcing local authorities to order a full evacuation. More than 63,000 people have been moved to safety, while many stranded in hard-to-reach areas were rescued by boat.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the wildfire in the Samos area has become the country’s most severe blaze of the year. The fire threatened the peninsula’s only access road, complicating evacuation efforts. Authorities said more than 10,000 hectares of forest and land have been destroyed, while around 80 homes have been damaged, including at least 50 that were completely destroyed.
The situation in Spain has also deteriorated rapidly. More than 10,000 residents have been evacuated from mountainous areas west of Madrid, as firefighters battle multiple blazes across Ávila Province and surrounding regions. Emergency crews are working around the clock to prevent separate fires from merging into even larger and more destructive infernos.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the government was compelled to declare a national state of emergency as a precautionary measure due to the rapid spread of fires into densely populated areas and strong winds that have intensified the crisis.
According to Spanish authorities, this marks the first time in the country’s history that a national emergency has been declared because of wildfires. Previously, such a high-level emergency measure had been invoked only during major nationwide power outages.
Both Spain and France have requested emergency support from the European Union, including assistance from the bloc’s shared aerial firefighting fleet, as they struggle to contain the fast-moving blazes.
Experts warn that persistent heatwaves, prolonged drought, and strong winds are likely to further worsen wildfire conditions in the coming days, posing an increasing threat to lives, property, and the environment across southern Europe.
Source: AFP, Reuters, and European media.