Wildfires fanned by scorching temperatures and strong winds swept through parts of western Europe on Friday, triggering a state of emergency in Spain's Madrid region and prompting France to seek help from the European Union. French authorities have ordered thousands of tourists on the south-western Atlantic coast to leave campsites and holiday homes, as firefighters backed by water-bombing aircraft raced to control the blazes. The total area of land burnt so far this year in EU countries is the second largest on record, according to satellite data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Three firefighters have been killed as southern Europe endures more severe heat, with temperatures topping 40C in some areas. France has invoked the European Union's civil protection mechanism to ask for help, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, warning that the crisis remained "very intense".
To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.
One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site.
Cover image: Residents look at the sky illuminated by wildfires in Le Porge, south-western France, early on July 23, 2026. © Romain Perrocheau, AFP
