Michael Francis Gore and Stephane MaheJul 24, 2026 – 11.24pmCap Ferret, France | Tens of thousands of people fled wildfires in southwest France by car and boat, while Spain declared a national emergency as huge blazes merged outside Madrid and searing heat left tinder-dry conditions across Europe.French authorities ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, a tourism hotspot on the Atlantic Coast. Two fires came together into one outside Madrid, and a third was on the verge of joining them, government officials said.ReutersSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles