More than 166,000 people have been forced to evacuate in France and Spain as unprecedented wildfires spread near Madrid and the popular French tourist city of Bordeaux.
French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered military assistance to help contain the country’s worst wildfire disaster after France requested support from the European Union (EU).
In southwestern France, around 44,000 residents and visitors were evacuated from the Cap Ferret peninsula near Bordeaux after flames threatened the only main road connecting the area.
Boats were deployed to assist with the evacuation of hundreds of people, while others managed to leave the peninsula by road. The area, known for its luxury residences and wealthy residents, has seen more than 50 homes destroyed by the fires.
Authorities said at least 141,000 people have been evacuated across southwestern France, while another 25,000 people were forced to leave their homes in the Madrid region of Spain, including more than 1,200 elderly residents and people with disabilities.
The fires, fuelled by strong winds and worsened by prolonged drought conditions, have continued to spread through forests and surrounding areas, prompting both Madrid and Paris to seek assistance from the EU.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the country had never experienced wildfires on such a scale before and pledged that authorities would do everything possible to protect Bordeaux and affected communities.
Emergency teams in both countries are continuing firefighting operations as extreme weather conditions continue to challenge efforts to control the blazes.
