In a historic move, Spain has issued its first-ever national emergency due to rampaging wildfires while France urgently appeals to the European Union for assistance in combating a massive inferno along its scenic Atlantic coast, prompting the evacuation of over 166,000 residents.
Close to Madrid in Spain and Bordeaux in France, fierce wildfires have been spreading rapidly. Bordeaux, known for its lush vineyards and as a coveted tourist destination, is now under threat.
As the flames near the outskirts of Bordeaux, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for military involvement to tackle what is being described as the nation’s most severe wildfire. Seeking aid from the European Union, Macron’s efforts underscore the urgent need for a coordinated effort to contain the disaster.
In a proactive response, French officials have mandated a complete evacuation of the affluent Cap Ferret peninsula. Known for its popularity during the summer months, the area now faces imminent danger as fires and smoke edge closer to residential zones. Around 44,000 individuals have vacated this picturesque peninsula south of Bordeaux, with the main access road endangered by the encroaching flames.
To facilitate a swift evacuation, a fleet of 27 boats carried hundreds to safety, while many others hastily evacuated by car. The region, famous for its opulent homes, has already seen more than 50 dwellings reduced to ashes.
French interior minister Laurent Nunez said France had never before seen this type of fire on this scale and pledged to “do everything” to protect Bordeaux.
A fire that began in Saumos, north of Cap Ferret, is threatening to cut off the only road out of the peninsula and is the largest so far this season in France, Nunez told local television.
In the town of Biscarrosse, another large fire also forced residents to leave their homes.
“From our home, we had a view of the fires … We could see the clouds becoming darker and darker,” said Yoan Urien, 26, who fled on Friday after police told everyone in his neighbourhood to leave.
“I was able to find somewhere to take shelter with my pets, but … it’s quite a shock.”
National emergency
In Spain, more than 10,000 people were evacuated from towns in the mountains west of the capital, Madrid, as firefighters sought to prevent three fires in the region and neighbouring Avila province from joining, interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said.
The area, where many residents from the capital have second homes, is densely populated.
That played a role in the government decision to declare a national emergency, allowing it to better co-ordinate the response, Grande-Marlaska said, adding that the aggressive nature of the fires and hot, windy weather also prompted the move.
It was the first time such a measure has been taken due to a wildfire.
The last time Spain declared the same level of emergency alert was during a massive nationwide power blackout in 2025.
Spain has also sought assistance from the EU, the Interior Ministry said.
In Navaluenga in Avila province, local residents wearing masks because of the smoke stood watching firefighting helicopters scoop up water from the town’s river.
More than 270 emergency personnel and 40 ground units have been deployed in the affected areas, alongside several Military Emergency Unit contingents, Spanish officials said.
It is the second consecutive year that Spain has faced a particularly destructive fire season.
More than 29 major fires have broken out in Spain in 2026, damaging a surface area five times greater than at the same stage in 2025, when a record area was destroyed, environment minister Sara Aagesen said in a social media post.