Fire whirls and evacuations — France and Spain engulfed by wildfires

France and Spain are battling massive wildfires. In France, the fire has destroyed 42,000 hectares in the Gironde region, with the army deployed. In Spain, over 90,000 people have been evacuated as fire approaches Madrid. The fires are accompanied by fire whirls and zero visibility.

France and Spain are engulfed by massive wildfires that continue to spread due to low humidity and high temperatures. In the French region of Gironde south of Bordeaux, the fire has destroyed 42,000 hectares, and since the start of the year, about 98,000 hectares have burned in the country. Captain Nicolas Braz, leading the operation, reported that the blaze generates its own winds and 'fire whirls,' making the flames uncontrollable. Due to zero visibility, a 60-kilometer stretch of the A63 motorway connecting France to Spain has been closed. Units of the French army have been deployed to fight the fire. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that containment will take a long time, and President Emmanuel Macron promised to restore the affected regions at state expense. In Spain, the fire is approaching major cities: over 90,000 people have been evacuated from the outskirts of Madrid and Avila, and eight more municipalities are being urgently evacuated in the province of Toledo. The head of the Madrid autonomous community, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, called it 'the worst fire in the region's history.' In Almería, the fire has reached residential areas, and authorities in Valencia confirmed the death of one local resident. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged citizens to be cautious, warning of extremely difficult days.