Spain Declares National Emergency As Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations Across Europe

Spain issued its first ever national emergency over wildfires on Friday, as raging fires pushed thousands from their homes in the mountains near Madrid. More than 10,000 residents were moved out of towns in Avila province, where crews worked to stop three separate blazes from merging under hot, windy conditions.

France Orders Full Evacuation Of Cap Ferret

Across the border, French officials evacuated around 63,000 people from the Cap Ferret peninsula, a popular summer destination, with many rescued by boat as smoke closed in. A separate fire near Saumos has burned roughly 10,000 hectares and destroyed dozens of homes, making it France’s largest this season.

EU Sends Reinforcements As Heat Strains Power Grid

President Emmanuel Macron requested additional firefighting aircraft from the European Union. Meanwhile, rising temperatures are heating rivers used to cool nuclear plants, forcing output cuts, with one reactor in southern France still offline due to heat restrictions.