Bordeaux suburbs evacuated as wildfires rage across France and Spain

Authorities in France evacuated parts of three western suburbs of Bordeaux on Saturday, July 25, 2026, as a massive wildfire shifted towards the city famous for its wines. The prefect of the Gironde region ordered the evacuation in the early hours, covering areas including the city's airport.

“As the fire continues to spread, and despite the significant resources deployed by firefighters, the situation requires the evacuation of residents from the affected areas to ensure their safety,” a statement from the prefecture said.

The evacuations are part of a larger crisis across southwestern France and central Spain, where massive forest fires have forced some 2,00,000 people to flee their homes. In Spain, residents near Madrid fled on Friday, July 24, 2026, as flames burned out of control.

Firefighters in both countries were caught off guard by the intensity of the fires, fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change. Spanish firefighters admitted the fires were so fast and violent that they could not be tackled head on. In France, some people even fled by boat when flames swept through tourist towns on the Atlantic coast.

According to the French Interior Ministry, about 1,41,000 people were evacuated from the Gironde and Landes departments. The Spanish Interior Ministry reported 60,000 people forced from their homes in central Spain.

The wildfires highlight the growing risks posed by climate change, which has made heatwaves and droughts more frequent and severe, creating conditions for larger and more destructive fires. Scientists have warned that such extreme fire events will become more common if global temperatures continue to rise.