Spain has declared a historic national emergency for the first time due to a wildfire, as extreme heatwaves and strong winds continue to fuel rapidly spreading fires near Madrid and across the Ávila Province.
The uncontrolled blazes have merged in several areas, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate as emergency services struggle to contain the flames under severe weather conditions.
At the same time, neighboring France is facing a similar crisis. Massive wildfires in the southwest have burned more than 100 square kilometres of land, prompting the evacuation of around 60,000 people, including residents and tourists in the Cap Ferret peninsula.
Authorities in both countries have requested emergency aerial support from the European Union, as firefighting teams work around the clock to control the fast-moving fires.
The situation highlights the growing impact of extreme weather events across Europe with rising temperatures and dry conditions increasing the risk and intensity of wildfires.
