Forest fires continue to spread uncontrollably in many areas of France and Spain. As of the local time on the 25th, approximately 267,000 people have been forced to evacuate, with about 197,000 in France and about 70,000 in Spain. Additionally, about 28,000 people in Spain have been advised to stay at home for safety reasons, and one man has died in a wildfire near Valencia.
According to reports from French television channel 24 and the Financial Times, the fire in southwestern France continues to spread towards Bordeaux, with the evacuation area expanding to areas such as Le Havre, Essonne, and Merignac outside Bordeaux. The city government of Bordeaux has stated that it has not considered evacuating the entire urban area yet, but the French government is preparing for various scenarios.
The Bordeaux Lake Exhibition Center has been converted into a temporary shelter. Previously, residents and tourists living on the Cap Ferret Peninsula in Arcachon Bay were also required to evacuate via roads and emergency ferries.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on the 25th that since the beginning of this year, the area burned by wildfires in France has reached nearly 98,000 hectares, setting a record high. The fires in the Gironde department remain uncontrolled, and some fires are only about 30 kilometers away from Bordeaux.
The French government has deployed approximately 1,500 soldiers to assist with firefighting, evacuation, and logistics efforts. For the first time, modified A400M military transport aircraft were used to deliver flame retardants. Due to the forest fires, the last stage of the Tour de France was also shortened, in order to send some police and security personnel to the disaster area.
French President Emmanuel Macron has asked the military to provide 'maximum' support to the civil defense department, and to activate the EU civil protection mechanism. He has also requested that other European countries provide firefighting aircraft and personnel. On the evening of the 25th, Macron said that the fire is testing France severely, but France has shown unity.
French Prime Minister Le Colleti said that the fires that have swept through France have reached an “unprecedented level”. Some of the large fires even created their own strong winds, making the fire-fighting efforts even more difficult.
In Spain, due to the combination of several fire outbreaks near Madrid and Avila, the Spanish government declared a national state of emergency over forest fires for the first time. Rescue efforts were coordinated by the central government. The weakening of wind overnight, increased humidity, and dropping temperatures provided a 'window of opportunity' for controlling the fires. However, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the direction of the wind.
Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez said during his inspection of the disaster area in Madrid on the 25th that the top priority is to "protect lives and residential areas," and Spanish governments at all levels are mobilizing all available resources. He warned that the situation remains complex, and it may still be difficult for the next few hours. Sánchez also called once again for parties involved to reach a national agreement to address the climate emergency.
Both France and Spain have requested assistance from the European Union. The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, stated that the EU has dispatched 5 aircraft and 2 helicopters to France, and additional 4 aircraft to Spain. Italy, Greece, and Portugal are also providing firefighters and equipment to Spain.
Since the beginning of this year, the area burned by wildfires in Spain has exceeded 130,000 hectares, which is higher than the average of about 100,000 hectares per year over the past decade. Sánchez said that continuous high temperatures and drought are further deteriorating the climate emergency situation.
