Wildfires in Europe: Spain and France Battle the Flames
Countless firefighters, soldiers and water-bombing aircraft are deployed in the fight against wildfires in southern Europe. While Spain has declared regional states of emergency, France is appealing to the EU for support.
The wildfire situation in southern Europe continues to deteriorate. Spain has now declared a "state of emergency of national significance" for two regions.
As the Interior Ministry announced, the state of emergency takes effect immediately for the capital region of Madrid and the province of Ávila. This allows the state to mobilize additional resources and funding.
In recent days, numerous fires have broken out across Spain. A wildfire that has gone out of control to the west of Madrid is causing particular concern for emergency services and residents. On Thursday, an evacuation order was issued for 3,500 people as a result. In total, around 10,000 people in the greater Madrid area have already been forced to leave their homes.
Aid Expected from Other EU Countries
Several large wildfires are also continuing to rage in France. The situation remained threatening along the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux, where around 30,000 people have been evacuated since Wednesday, primarily from campsites and holiday resorts.
In order to receive support in fighting the fires, France appealed to other EU member states for assistance. President Macron stated that the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism had been requested. French firefighters are being pushed to the brink of their capacity in many areas due to massive large-scale fires.
Water-bombing aircraft and heavy-lift helicopters from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are among those now expected to arrive.
