France, Spain and Turkey Grapple with Massive Wildfires, 130,000 Evacuated

Extreme heat waves swept across southern Europe, igniting large forest fires in France, Spain and Turkey. In France and Spain more than 130,000 people were evacuated as flames threatened settlements and tourist areas. Spain declared a national emergency for the first time in its history, while French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the deployment of army units to assist firefighting efforts, including the evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula.

In Turkey, a series of 46 forest fires erupted in the provinces of Antalya, Muğla, Mersin, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Yalova and Kütahya. Authorities reported a total of 115 fires in the past 48 hours, with over 100 already extinguished. Hundreds of homes were evacuated, and volunteers supplied water, food and other aid to firefighters. Regional leaders, including Madrid Autonomous Community President Isabel Diaz Ayuso, highlighted the unprecedented scale of the blazes.

Both nations have appealed to the European Union for emergency assistance as the heat wave continues to fuel dangerous, fast‑moving fires across the region.