"More than 300,000 people in France and Spain have fled fires which have been raging for days, as winds and high temperatures hamper efforts to contain them.
Firefighters are struggling to contain wildfires in south-west France as strong winds push flames towards the city of Bordeaux, with one official saying they "are far from having the fire under control."More than 300,000 people in France and Spain have fled fires which have been raging for days, as winds and high temperatures hamper efforts to contain them. In Spain, where a state of emergency has been declared, a change in weather conditions has helped firefighters outside Madrid.Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez admitted there were "complex times ahead". Meanwhile, authorities in València confirmed the death of a man in a fire.The man, believed to be in his 70s, was found dead in his car by firefighters as they extinguished a fire in the Salt de l'Aigua ravine in Manises, according to local media reports.In France, a further 55,000 were ordered to evacuate late on Saturday, taking the total to around 250,000 people in south-western regions of Gironde and Landes regions.Firefighter Captain Nicolas Braz told AFP news agency that the fire had created "its own winds - complete with whirlwinds", adding it was "erratic and unmanageable".It is set to be another "difficult night," he said.France has mobilised its military to help with the response and extra reinforcements from the army have been sent to help firefighters by clearing brush and creating fire breaks.President Emmanuel Macron said France would "rebuild" and his government would "be there for as long as is needed".A British couple holidaying in Bordeaux said they noticed the flames get worse on Friday night, as the fire approached."At about seven o'clock you could smell smoke. We thought someone was having a barbecue," Maisie told BBC Newsbeat from their holiday rental.Her partner, Caleb, said the ash has now covered the pool in the house and turned their feet black when walking outside.The smoke "really hits your lungs right away", they added.Nearby, in Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, residents evacuating said the situation was "stressful", with one local describing it a "disaster".The final leg of the Tour de France, due to take place Sunday, has been shortened from 133km (83 miles) to 89km (55 miles) so that security forces can be redeployed to areas affected by wildfires, organisers and police have said.Macron is set to have an emergency meeting with ministers as 30 or so fires rage across the country - a situation which the government said is totally unprecedented.She said fires had started earlier in the year when, in April, the Netherlands activated the EU's civil protection mechanism which triggers support and reinforcements from other countries.Lahbib told the BBC: "Last year, one million hectares burned during the summer and so we are expecting to face another historical, sad record because the season has started earlier in the year."She also warned that more outbreaks are likely as the summer goes on. "Forecasters are predicting, unfortunately, another heatwave so we can expect other wildfires," Lahbib added.France has activated the civil protection mechanism and will receive water bombers, comprising three Canadairs planes from Croatia and two Air Tractors from Portugal, as well as Black Hawk helicopters from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and 40 members of a Romanian forest fire team.EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said 11 planes and helicopters have also been sent to France and Spain from the EU's firefighting fleet.Additional reporting by Mary Litchfield, BBC Your Voice and Srosh Khan, BBC Newsbeat
Spain's government has declared a national emergency with 63,000 people told to evacuate or stay indoors, with the number told to flee totalling at least 25,000.Madrid's regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described it as the "worst fire in the history of the region", with the area facing a "perfect storm" of high temperatures, relentless wind and merging fire fronts. Meanwhile, around 140,000 people have been evacuated in south-west France after wildfires tore through the Gironde and Landes regions. The fire changed direction later on Friday and was heading towards Bordeaux, with further evacuations expected. French President Emmanuel Macron has mobilised the military to assist the response.In Spain, local emergency services said wildfires were moving towards the municipalities of Robledo de Chavela and Fresnedillas de la Olivia, around 50km (31 miles) from the capital."The wildfire is at its peak and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to contain," Carlos Novillo, the Madrid regional government's emergency management chief, told reporters."It's not possible to attack the fire in that area, so defensive measures are being taken," he added.Authorities are also monitoring a separate wildfire in nearby Ávila province, where officials fear the huge Burgohondo blaze could merge with the Madrid fire. Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said authorities were doing "everything we can" to prevent the two merging.More than 60,000 people have been affected in the Madrid region, with 30,000 forced to evacuate and 20,000 placed under lockdown, authorities said.Francisco Martín, the government delegate in Madrid, warned those numbers could rise as "embers are flying for miles and the fire is jumping great distances".The mayor of El Tiemblo, one of the affected areas in Ávila, said flames spread from Navaluenga to the Iruelas Valley - a distance of about 20km (12 miles) - in less than half an hour. "It was horrific," Arturo Varas González told laSexta.At least 6,000 hectares of land have burned in the Madrid region, while the Ávila blaze has consumed almost 9,000 hectares, according to officials.Eight municipalities have been evacuated, including Chapinería, Navas del Rey, Colmenar del Arroyo, Fresnedillas de la Oliva, Robledo de Chavela, Aldea del Fresno, Navalagamella and Zarzalejo.Several other towns, including San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa and Villa del Prado, remain under lockdown.'If you try to face it, it devours you'Image source, EPAEcologio Cabrera, 86, was forced to flee his village west of Madrid. "If you don't run from it and you try to face it, it devours you," he told AFP news agency from a sports hall in the village of Vilamanta where hundreds of evacuees have sought refuge.His family tried to save their home by spraying it with garden hoses until firefighters arrived. "They arrived and told everybody to get out... I have never experienced anything like this."Madrid's regional president Ayuso said the situation was "completely unusual and catastrophic," with the priority being saving lives.Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will visit the zone's emergency coordination centre early on Saturday, his administration said.Earlier on Friday, Sánchez said people were "living through a dramatic situation" and urged citizens to take great care.The Civil Guard has arreste
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