From 10h 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 events2h agoClosing summary2h agoSpanish authorities worry about blazes in Madrid and Ávila merging3h agoSpain's far-right party falsely claims wildfires are not linked to climate emergency3h agoRussian strikes kill 10 in Kyiv, hit Latvian consulate in Sloviansk3h agoRomania investigates origin of drone shot down over its territory3h agoPoland’s main rightwing opposition splits after loyalty pledge ultimatum3h agoGermany's Merz reshuffles top team as he seeks to bounce back after surrogacy scandal3h agoMore areas in south-western France under evacuation orders as wildfire spreads4h agoTell us: have you been affected by wildfires in Europe?5h agoTwo wildfires near Madrid merged and formed a single blaze, authorities warn5h agoDramatic satellite picture shows scale of wildfires in Spain6h agoEU to deploy four planes to Spain, three to France to assist local firefighters7h agoTwo wildfires west of Madrid on the verge of merging, official warns7h agoSpanish firefighters battle to prevent 'convergence' of blazes, minister says8h agoFrance conducts total evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfire spreads8h agoDeclaration of national emergency in Spain is a big deal - snap analysis8h agoSouth-east of France also hit by wildfires with 25 houses destroyed8h agoOver 110,000 hectares of land burned by forest fires in 2026, Spanish authorities say8h ago'We are living through a dramatic situation,' Spain's Sánchez says on wildfires in Spain, France8h ago'Extreme' fire danger around Spain as authorities seek help in battling wildfires8h agoSpain requests support through the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism as it battles wildfires9h agoRomania shoots down drone breaching its airspace, and explosions reported in Kyiv - monitoring9h agoEvacuation of Cap Ferret in France - in pictures9h ago40,000 people 'evacuated or being evacuated' in French wildfire in Gironde, minister says10h agoFrance orders evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as thousands flee wildfiresClosing summaryJakub KrupaAnd, on that note, we will be closing the blog for today.