Wildfires rage across France, Spain as flames near Bordeaux, hundreds of thousands evacuated

Warning residents of the growing threat, Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave told the BBC: "We are preparing to accommodate a large number of people should further evacuations be ordered."

French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited the fire-ravaged Gironde region, describing the disaster as a "completely unprecedented wildfire" for the country. He said France was facing its "toughest" wildfire crisis since the Second World War.

According to reports, around 220,000 people have been evacuated across France, while more than 100,000 have fled their homes in Spain as firefighters struggle to contain the rapidly spreading infernos.

Jerome Steffe, the mayor of Cestas, a town south of Bordeaux, warned that this "will be the fire of the century."

He said nearly 17,000 residents were evacuated overnight after the blaze intensified two days ago. So far, the region has witnessed the destruction of around 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres) of land and 240 homes.

"In my city the situation is really catastrophic," Steffe told the BBC.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the country was experiencing an "unprecedented fire season."

"Our country is going through an unprecedented fire season: 116,085 hectares have already burned and 13,566 fire starts have been recorded since January," he wrote on X.

Emphasizing the importance of wildfire prevention, Lecornu noted that human negligence remains the leading cause of such disasters.

"The fight against wildfires begins with prevention. Nine out of ten fires are human-caused, and most result from carelessness—a cigarette butt, a barbecue, or work carried out without proper precautions. Postponing construction work, clearing vegetation around properties, and avoiding smoking near forests are simple actions that save forests, homes, and lives," he said.

He also warned that not all fires are accidental.

"Some are deliberately set. It is a crime punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment. Since July 6, 162 arrests have already been made," Lecornu added.

Meanwhile, Spain entered its fifth consecutive day under a national emergency as devastating wildfires continued to rage across the country.

According to new data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, the area burned by wildfires across Europe has surged by 57 percent over the past four years.

Wildfires destroyed 2.2 million hectares of land across the WHO European Region in 2025, compared with 1.4 million hectares in 2022.

In Spain and Portugal alone, the number of wildfires has more than doubled compared to last year.

Madrid declared a national emergency on Friday after wildfires near the capital forced around 10,000 people to evacuate. Regional authorities described the ongoing crisis as the worst wildfire emergency in the country's history.

In southern France, approximately 63,000 people have been evacuated following multiple fires that have already destroyed around 80 homes, according to national authorities.

"Wildfires destroy homes and livelihoods, force evacuations, and place enormous pressure on emergency services and health systems," the WHO said in a recent press release. "Tragically, they also claim lives."

Climate Change Driving More Intense Wildfires

The WHO warned that climate change is making wildfires both more frequent and more severe across Europe.

Rising temperatures, prolonged drought conditions, and increasing urbanization are creating ideal conditions for fires to ignite and spread rapidly while also extending the duration of the wildfire season.

The agency cautioned that unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced and preventive measures strengthened, Europe is likely to witness even more destructive wildfire seasons in the years ahead.