27.07.2026 11:20
Approximately 375,000 people have been evacuated due to forest fires continuing in the Gironde region of southwestern France and various parts of Spain. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the Iberian Peninsula is concretely experiencing the effects of the climate crisis, while in France, a crisis cabinet is expected to convene as the fire advances toward Bordeaux.
Approximately 375,000 people have been evacuated due to the massive forest fires that have been raging for days in France and Spain, with authorities warning that a new heatwave will further increase the fire risk.
In the Gironde region of southwestern France, a fire fueled by strong winds has burned 42,000 hectares of land so far. About 260,000 people have been evacuated in the country due to the fire affecting an area roughly four times the size of Paris. At least 240 homes have been completely destroyed, and numerous buildings have been damaged.
FRANCE'S CRISIS CABINET MEETING ON THE AGENDA
Local authorities reported that the fire continues to advance toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area, but no significant expansion occurred overnight. Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave stated that the flames are about 25-30 kilometers from the city center and that evacuating the city is not currently on the agenda.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to convene the crisis cabinet, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that the fire has become "extremely violent and unpredictable" again, occasionally creating its own wind and spreading toward Bordeaux.
Approximately 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 soldiers, 1,200 police officers, and 450 civil defense volunteers are deployed in the fire zone. It was reported that 84 firefighters have been injured since Wednesday, July 22, with 10 of them hospitalized.
Authorities stated that the fire has turned into what is called a "pyrocumulonimbus" fire cloud, creating its own weather system, and noted that this is the first time such an event has been observed in France. Firefighting efforts also continue in the Landes, Var, Hautes-Alpes, and Corsica regions of France.
SANCHEZ: THE IBERIAN PENINSULA IS EXPERIENCING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS
In Spain, major fires west of Madrid have been reported as significantly brought under control.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, speaking at the fire command center, said, "We are going through difficult hours, but the latest assessments show that last night was positive regarding the fire's progress."
Sanchez noted that Spain and Portugal are facing different impacts of the climate crisis, such as fires, storms, and heavy snowfall, adding, "The entire Iberian Peninsula is experiencing the consequences of the climate crisis in a very concrete way."
While fires near Madrid have been brought under control, at least 15,000 people have been evacuated due to a new fire near Valencia. Juanfran Perez Llorca, head of the Valencia regional government, stated that the fire has spread over approximately 21 kilometers and that current response capacity is being strained.
Spain's Ministry of Interior announced that one person has died in the town of Manises, Valencia. Authorities also decided to evacuate eight more settlements near Toledo. Thus, the number of evacuees in Spain in recent days has reached approximately 116,000.
Spanish Environment Minister Sara Aagesen announced that the fire that burned 50,000 hectares in the province of Ávila is the largest forest fire in the country's recent history.
NEW HEATWAVE WARNING
Meteorologists predict that temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius in some regions during the new heatwave expected to affect France starting Tuesday.
European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib also stated that the damage caused by forest fires this year could surpass previous records, noting that the fire season has started earlier due to the climate crisis and the risk is growing.
According to data from Spain's Ministry of Environment, a total of 152,678 hectares have been damaged in 32 major forest fires in the country since the beginning of 2026. In the same period last year, 24,133 hectares were affected by seven major fires.