At least one dead and over 300,000 evacuated as wildfires rage in France and Spain
Wildfires in France and Spain have forced more than 300,000 people to leave their homes and left at least one person dead.
At least one person has died and more than 300,000 people have been evacuated in France and Spain as a series of wildfires continue to consume thousands of hectares of land, officials said.
A 78-year-old man died in the Spanish town of Manises, northwest of Valencia, after being overtaken by flames in an area hit by a forest fire. The victim had reduced mobility and was caught by the blaze near his orchard.
Fires spread across Madrid region and parts of France
Spanish authorities warned further evacuations are likely as fires keep burning across the Madrid region and in the province of Avila. This week, fires in the Madrid region and Avila together have scorched 111,197 hectares, or about 174 square miles.
In southwestern France, some 198,000 people have been evacuated from the departments of Gironde, Landes, Var and Tarn, with the bulk of the displacements coming from Gironde, the French interior minister Laurent Nunez said.
Residents near Lacanau have launched local efforts to try to halt the flames, but deteriorating weather — including prolonged drought and a heat wave — along with shortages of water have made containment more difficult.
Firefighters from both countries remain on the front lines as officials monitor conditions and coordinate further evacuations where necessary.
Photo: press material from the event
