From 26m agoFrance orders evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as thousands flee wildfiresJakub KrupaThousands of people have been forced to flee parts of south-west France amid worsening wildfires that prompted the authorities to order people to evacuate from the Cap Ferret peninsula along the Atlantic coast.A French Civil Security Canadair CL-415 aircraft sprays water on a forest surrounding Cotignac, southeastern France. Photograph: Thibaud Moritz/AFP/Getty ImagesEvacuees have been told to leave the area before 10am, using hundreds of mobilised boats or the only road linking the area with the mainland.Holidaymakers from Lege-Cap-Ferret carry their belongings along the pier upon their arrival in Arcachon during an evacuation operation of the entire Cap-Ferret peninsula in southwestern France. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty ImagesMore than 10,000 hectares are affected by the two concurrent wildfires, which last night crossed the firebreak established by firefighters.The French authorities formally requested the activation of the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism to tap into the bloc’s resources as they battle the fires, with Emmanuel Macron saying the situation remained “very intense.”The EU’s crisis commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, confirmed that “following France’s activation of the EU’s civil protection mechanism, the EU is providing assistance and deploying 3 water bomber aircraft.”Dangerous situation is also unfolding in Spain, with the Spanish government declaring a national emergency over wildfires near Madrid and Avila, forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate.A wall of flames advances as a wildfire burns near Burgohondo, in Ávila province, Spain. Photograph: Mateo Lanzuela/Europa Press/API will bring you all the updates here.It’s Friday, 24 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.Key events12m ago40,000 people 'evacuated or being evacuated' in French wildfire in Gironde, minister says26m agoFrance orders evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as thousands flee wildfiresNuñez also warned about a second fire in Biscarrosse, which he said was also “significant” and “somewhat similar” to the main fire in Gironde since it broke out yesterday afternoon.The entrance of the town of Biscarosse, southwestern France, with a sky turned hazy yellowish-grey by the smoke of a wildfire spreading through the surrounding forest. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty ImagesIt has burned over 2,500 hectares, prompting the evacuation of just over 20,000 people, he said.The minister said that the weather conditions were “highly unfavourable,” making it difficult for more than 700 firefighters deployed there to tackle the blaze, and “the fire continues to spread.”40,000 people 'evacuated or being evacuated' in French wildfire in Gironde, minister saysSpeaking at a press conference this morning, France’s interior minister Laurent Nuñez said that the largest wildfire in Gironde – which started in Somos, but now moved to the Cap Ferret peninsula – has already burned more than 10,000 hectares.Firefighters try to extinguishing fires burning trees using a wildland water truck near Le Porge, southwestern France. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty Images“As I speak, a total of 40,000 people have been or are currently being evacuated due to this fire,” he said.Nuñez warned that “the fire is currently not under control and continues to spread,” with around 1,000 firefighters involved in battling the blaze.In total, more than 50,000 hectares have been burned in wildfires since the start of the year.France orders evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as thousands flee wildfiresJakub KrupaThousands of people have been forced to flee parts of south-west France amid worsening wildfires that prompted the authorities to order people to evacuate from the Cap Ferret peninsula along the Atlantic coast.A French Civil Security Canadair CL-415 aircraft sprays water on a forest surrounding Cotignac, southeastern France. Photograph: Thibaud Moritz/AFP/Getty ImagesEvacuees have been told to leave the area before 10am, using hundreds of mobilised boats or the only road linking the area with the mainland.Holidaymakers from Lege-Cap-Ferret carry their belongings along the pier upon their arrival in Arcachon during an evacuation operation of the entire Cap-Ferret peninsula in southwestern France. Photograph: Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty ImagesMore than 10,000 hectares are affected by the two concurrent wildfires, which last night crossed the firebreak established by firefighters.The French authorities formally requested the activation of the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism to tap into the bloc’s resources as they battle the fires, with Emmanuel Macron saying the situation remained “very intense.”The EU’s crisis commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, confirmed that “following France’s activation of the EU’s civil protection mechanism, the EU is providing assistance and deploying 3 water bomber aircraft.”Dangerous situation is also unfolding in Spain, with the Spanish government declaring a national emergency over wildfires near Madrid and Avila, forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate.A wall of flames advances as a wildfire burns near Burgohondo, in Ávila province, Spain. Photograph: Mateo Lanzuela/Europa Press/API will bring you all the updates here.It’s Friday, 24 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.