‘If you face it, it will devour you’
Hundreds of thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes as devastating wildfires continue to spread across parts of France and Spain, prompting emergency declarations and large-scale rescue operations.
In south-west France, around 200,000 people have been evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions as firefighters battle rapidly advancing blazes. French President Emmanuel Macron has deployed military personnel to support emergency responders in efforts to contain the fires and protect affected communities.
In neighbouring Spain, authorities have declared a national emergency as a major wildfire west of Madrid continues to rage out of control.
Spanish officials said three separate fires merged into a single massive blaze, overwhelming firefighting efforts and forcing the evacuation of about 25,000 residents. A further 40,000 people have been instructed to remain indoors due to the danger posed by smoke and advancing flames.
Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described the disaster as the worst wildfire in the region’s history, blaming a combination of extreme temperatures, strong winds and converging fire fronts for the rapid spread.
Emergency management chief Carlos Novillo warned that firefighters were unable to directly attack parts of the blaze.
“The wildfire is at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain,” Novillo told reporters.
“It’s not possible to attack the fire in that area, so defensive measures are being taken,” he added.
The fires are advancing towards the municipalities of Robledo de Chavela and Fresnedillas de la Oliva, located about 50 kilometres west of Madrid.
Arturo Varas González, mayor of El Tiemblo in Ávila province, described the speed of the fire as unprecedented, saying the flames travelled roughly 20 kilometres from Navaluenga to the Iruelas Valley in less than 30 minutes.
“It was horrific,” he said.
According to Spanish authorities, more than 6,000 hectares of land have been destroyed in the Madrid region, while another wildfire in Ávila has consumed nearly 9,000 hectares.
Eight municipalities have so far been evacuated, including Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Robledo de Chavela, Aldea del Fresno, Navalagamella and Zarzalejo.
Emergency crews in both France and Spain remain on high alert as extreme weather conditions continue to fuel the fires, with authorities urging residents to comply with evacuation orders and safety directives.
