More than 330,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes in France and Spain as unprecedented wildfires raged across the region. The fires, described as "monster" blazes, have devastated forests and emptied villages, with firefighters struggling to contain the flames. The situation escalated on Sunday, as smoke plumes reached the sky and emergency services worked around the clock to protect communities.
The wildfires, which have been burning for days, are concentrated in southwest France and central Spain near Madrid. Temperatures in the region have averaged 32°C during July, contributing to the rapid spread of the fires. In France, around 50,000 people were evacuated overnight, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. At least one person has died in Spain, officials confirmed.
Spain and France have deployed thousands of firefighters, with neighboring countries sending additional support. The scale of the disaster has prompted the Foreign Office to update travel guidance for the two countries, which remain popular with holidaymakers. Evacuations continue as authorities monitor the situation and assess the full impact of the blazes.
