France and Spain battle record wildfires as extreme heatwaves scorch hundreds of thousands of hectares

Published Jul 30, 01:10 PM UTC

France and Spain are experiencing their largest wildfires on record in July 2026, driven by extreme heatwaves and drought conditions. In France's Gironde region around Bordeaux, 42,000 hectares have burned, over 200,000 people evacuated, and fires came within 15km of Bordeaux city. French President Macron called it the toughest situation since WWII. In Spain, a merged wildfire in Ávila and Madrid regions destroyed 77,000 hectares, with 100,000 evacuated or confined. Spain's fourth heatwave began July 29, bringing dangerous '30/30/30' conditions. Both countries mobilized extensive firefighting resources, including EU civil protection assistance, volunteer firefighters, and military aircraft. The fires highlight the growing impact of climate change on wildfire risk in southern Europe.