More than 300,000 evacuated as wildfires rage in France and Spain

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 Sanchez admitted there were complex times ahead. Meanwhile, authorities in Valencia 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. The wind blew smoke towards the city of Bordeaux on Saturday and people reported an acrid smell in the air. The final leg of the Tour de France, due to take place Sunday, has been shortened from 133km to 89km 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 which the government said is totally unprecedented. In Spain, fires continued near Madrid. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters the situation was complex. Since the wildfires broke out in Spain, nearly 60,000 people had already been evacuated from the Madrid and Avila regions. Late on Saturday, at least eight municipalities near Toledo were also ordered to evacuate. Madrid's regional president Isabel Diaz Ayuso described the situation as the worst fire in the history of the region. Sanchez said 130,000 hectares of land had been burned in Spain so far this year. Frances Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 98,000 hectares have burned across the country since the beginning of 2026. Meanwhile in Italy, more than 350 fires broke out on the island of Sicily. 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.