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Spain and France battle record wildfires, affecting hundreds of thousands
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Spain and France battle record wildfires, affecting hundreds of thousands

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Spain and France are battling record wildfires, affecting over 285,000 people and scorching tens of thousands of hectares.
  • In Spain, two major fires have burned approximately 45,000 hectares, prompting the national government to assume unified command and deploy significant military and security resources.
  • France has seen 98,000 hectares burn this year, with a major fire in the southwest forcing nearly 200,000 evacuations, primarily near Bordeaux.

Spain and France are facing a critical wildfire situation, with over 285,000 people affected and vast areas of land consumed by flames. This summer's extreme heat and weather conditions have exacerbated the crisis.

Europe is standing with France and Spain.

— Ursula von der LeyenThe European Commission President highlighted the EU's support, noting the deployment of aerial resources and the Copernicus system to aid in firefighting efforts in both countries.

In Spain, two large fires in the central provinces of Madrid and Ávila have burned or damaged an estimated 45,000 hectares, impacting more than 85,000 people. The government has taken unified command of firefighting efforts, deploying 1,201 military personnel, hundreds of ground units, and over 20 aircraft. Spain has also requested and received aid from Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Portugal through the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

President Pedro Sánchez described the fire's evolution as "complex" due to shifting winds. He noted that 130,000 hectares have burned in Spain so far in 2026, with other significant fires active in León, Huesca, Teruel, and Córdoba. A fire in Almería resulted in 13 deaths and 7,000 hectares burned, while another in Guadalajara's Sierra Norte scorched 32,000 hectares.

the evolution of the fire continues to be complex due to the changing wind

— Pedro SánchezThe Spanish Prime Minister commented on the ongoing challenges in combating the wildfires affecting central Spain.

Meanwhile, France is experiencing unprecedented wildfires, with 98,000 hectares burned since the start of the year, a "historic record," according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The southwest region is of particular concern, where nearly 200,000 people have been evacuated due to a massive fire in the Gironde, which is advancing towards Bordeaux. This fire, which began in the tourist area of Arcachon Bay, has already forced 167,000 people to flee their homes.

historic record

— Laurent NuñezFrance's Interior Minister described the extent of the wildfires in the country this year.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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