Violent wildfires force thousands to evacuate across southern Europe

Southern Europe is battling devastating wildfires, with thousands evacuated from their homes in France and Spain as high temperatures and strong winds fan the flames. Spain declared a national emergency on Thursday night as the fires intensified.

This year has seen the second-largest area burned by wildfires in the European Union since records began 20 years ago, according to satellite data. The intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 40°C in some areas, has exacerbated the crisis. At least three firefighters have died in recent days – two in France and one in Italy.

In France, two major fires are raging. One in Le Porge, near Bordeaux, has consumed 4,800 hectares and led to over 20,000 evacuations in the Landes de Gascogne forest region. Authorities suspect work on a forest road may have sparked this blaze. Another fire in the Var department in the southeast, which began Tuesday, has burned 2,700 hectares, prompting the evacuation of over 300 people.

“

France requested the activation of the EU civil protection mechanism, so we will soon have European aerial means to fight the flames.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France had requested EU civil protection activation, expecting European aerial resources soon, including Croatian Canadairs, Portuguese Air Tractors, and Czech and Slovak Black Hawk helicopters. The French Interior Minister noted over 12,500 fire outbreaks this year, burning 44,000 hectares, a record for this time of year in France.

Italy is also facing severe conditions, with dozens of fires in Sicily. European vegetation and soils are suffering from a prolonged drought, intensified by exceptional heatwaves in June and July. Climate scientists link these worsening droughts to the continued burning of fossil fuels.

“

Soon we will be able to count on the reinforcement of two Croatian Canadair, two Portuguese Air Tractor, and two Czech and Slovak Black Hawk heavy helicopters.