Additional Coverage:
- Tens of thousands forced to evacuate as wildfires tear through Spain and southern France (nbcnews.com)
Spain and southern France are grappling with severe wildfires amid an intense heatwave, prompting urgent evacuations and emergency measures. On Friday, the Spanish government declared a national emergency as fires in the Madrid region forced around 10,000 residents to flee their homes. Meanwhile, in southwestern France, tens of thousands have evacuated due to two large blazes threatening communities along the Atlantic coast.
In Spain, the declaration gives the Interior Ministry control over firefighting efforts, coordinating resources across affected regions. The fires in Madrid’s surrounding areas have rapidly spread, with estimates showing that approximately 500 square miles have burned so far this year-over four times the area consumed by wildfires in the first half of 2025.
Among the current incidents is Spain’s second-largest wildfire on record, which scorched about 120 square miles in Guadalajara province north of Madrid. Earlier this month, a deadly fire in southern Spain claimed 13 lives, marking one of the country’s worst recent tragedies.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for a political consensus to address climate change, emphasizing the urgent need to adapt to increasingly fire-prone conditions. Temperatures in southeastern Spain are forecast to soar above 39°C (102°F), with some areas reaching highs of 44°C (111°F).
Across the border in France, authorities ordered further mass evacuations on Friday in response to wildfires near the popular Cap Ferret peninsula. Over the past two days, about 40,000 people have left their homes as flames consumed more than 34 square miles. Some residents had to be evacuated by boat due to the rapid spread of the fires.
France has activated the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism to bolster firefighting capabilities. President Emmanuel Macron announced incoming support, including Croatian Canadair water bombers, Portuguese Air Tractor aircraft, and heavy-lift Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Southern Europe is facing a challenging fire season amid a warming climate. According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s.
The year 2025 ranks as the third-hottest on record globally, bringing intense heatwaves that exacerbate drought and wildfire risk. Scientists warn that climate change is driving more frequent and severe heat and dryness, especially in southeastern Europe, heightening threats to public health and increasing wildfire vulnerability.