Southern Europe battles wildfires as Spain gains ground and France expands emergency response
Southern European countries continued battling major wildfires over the weekend, with Spain reporting progress in containing its largest blazes while France expanded emergency operations and Tunisia received Italian assistance.
Spanish authorities said Sunday that nearly all wildfire fronts affecting the Community of Madrid and Avila province had been contained, although several hotspots remained active.
More than 121,000 people have either been evacuated or ordered to remain indoors as the fires have burned over 77,000 hectares across Madrid and Avila. Authorities are treating the two blazes as a single operational fire, while flames continue advancing toward Toledo.
The fires have destroyed more than 40 homes and damaged nearly 300 others in the Madrid region. Officials also closed 39 roads across the affected areas.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the government will declare the affected regions disaster zones, while warning that "challenging hours" still lie ahead. Regional authorities said the Avila wildfire was likely caused by negligence and vowed legal action against those responsible.
Elsewhere, a wildfire in Castellon's Vall d'Uixo forced the evacuation of around 17,000 people, while a separate blaze in Manises claimed one life.
Spain has recorded 32 major wildfires this year, with more than 152,000 hectares burned, compared with just over 24,000 hectares during the same period in 2025.
France deploys military as fires spread
French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the armed forces to provide "maximum reinforcement" to firefighting operations as multiple wildfires continued spreading across southwestern France.
More than 19,000 hectares have burned in the Gironde department, where around 100 buildings have been destroyed and about 1,000 firefighters remain deployed.
The Interior Ministry said at least 141,000 people have been evacuated since Wednesday, including 110,000 in Gironde and 31,000 in the Landes department. Additional fires remain active in the Var department, prompting further precautionary evacuations.
Italy assists Tunisia amid extreme heat
Italy sent a Canadair firefighting aircraft to Tunisia to help contain two wildfires burning in the western Kef province.
Tunisian authorities said the fires have burned hundreds of hectares of forest and vegetation, with firefighters supported by military aircraft and 22 fire engines.
The country has lost about 4,400 hectares to wildfires since May, nearly 63% more than during the same period last year, as temperatures exceeded 45 degrees Celsius in several regions.
Source:AA
