MADRID/LEGE-CAP-FERRET, France — Spain declared its first-ever national wildfire emergency on Friday as fast-moving fires driven by extreme heat and strong winds forced tens of thousands of people to flee across Spain and France, with many residents and tourists in southwestern France evacuated by boat from the Atlantic coast.
Authorities in France ordered the full evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula near Bordeaux, a popular holiday destination, as a rapidly spreading wildfire engulfed surrounding forests. Boats ferried thousands of residents and vacationers across Arcachon Bay after roads became congested or inaccessible due to the advancing flames. Around 63,000 people were evacuated in France, including approximately 40,000 from Cap Ferret alone.
The blaze near the village of Saumos burned roughly 10,000 hectares of forest and destroyed about 50 homes, making it one of France’s largest wildfires this year. France requested assistance through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, with Greece and Croatia deploying firefighting aircraft to reinforce local crews.
In neighboring Spain, the government declared a national emergency over wildfires for the first time after multiple blazes merged near Madrid and the province of Ávila. More than 19,000 people were evacuated as over 2,000 firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft, battled rapidly expanding fire fronts under difficult weather conditions. Authorities warned that another wildfire in Ávila could merge with the existing fires, further complicating containment efforts.
Spanish officials said the emergency declaration allows the central government to mobilize additional national resources and coordinate firefighting operations more effectively across affected regions. The fires have already scorched more land in Spain this year than during the same period in 2025, with at least 29 major wildfires recorded nationwide.
The fires come after Europe experienced three successive heatwaves this summer, leaving vegetation exceptionally dry and creating ideal conditions for fast-moving wildfires. Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and extreme fire conditions across the continent.
The prolonged heat has also affected infrastructure and agriculture. Rising river temperatures in France have raised concerns about reduced nuclear power generation, while drought conditions have damaged maize crops and strained water supplies in several countries. Major rivers, including Germany’s Rhine and Romania’s Danube, have also experienced unusually low water levels, disrupting shipping and commerce.
Emergency officials in both France and Spain urged residents to follow evacuation orders and remain alert as hot, windy weather is expected to continue, increasing the risk of additional wildfires across southern Europe.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
