EU sends water-bombing aircraft to France as wildfires force thousands to evacuate in Spain and France
Story Timeline
2 months · 14 summary articles
Wildfires fueled by extreme heat and strong winds swept across western Europe on Friday, forcing thousands to evacuate in France, triggering a state of emergency in Spain's Madrid region, and prompting Paris to seek emergency assistance from the European Union.
In Spain, the government declared a state of emergency in the Madrid region and the nearby province of Ávila, allowing for more resources and military involvement in combating the fires. Around 10,000 people have been evacuated in the Madrid region due to the wildfires.
In France, over 20,000 people have been evacuated from the Atlantic coast, particularly in the Gironde region, where 4,800 hectares have burned. French President Emmanuel Macron has requested help from the European Union to combat the fires. The EU has responded by providing three water-bombing aircraft to France, according to EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib.
The wildfires have resulted in fatalities, including firefighters. In Italy, firefighters are battling scores of fires in Sicily and the Calabria region, where arsonists have been reported to start fires by tying rags soaked in flammable liquid to the tails of stray cats to spread the flames.
The situation remains critical, with high temperatures and strong winds fueling the fires. In France, around 800 firefighters, 260 vehicles, five water-bombing aircraft, and one helicopter are involved in the efforts to control the blazes.
French authorities have ordered thousands of tourists on the south-western Atlantic coast to leave campsites and holiday homes, as firefighters backed by water-bombing aircraft raced to control the blazes. The total area of land burnt so far this year in EU countries is the second largest on record, according to satellite data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
Three firefighters have been killed as southern Europe endures more severe heat, with temperatures topping 40C in some areas. France has invoked the European Union's civil protection mechanism to ask for help, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, warning that the crisis remained "very intense".
EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said on Thursday that the bloc was providing three water-bombing aircraft to France. Patrick Martineau, a 69-year-old resident of Le Porge, south of Bordeaux, said: "The gendarmes came and knocked on every door, the fire was about 500 metres away – we grabbed some things and left."
France's south-east was also being hard hit, with dozens of fires flaring up and being fanned by the mistral wind around the historic village of Cotignac, with officials saying around 25 houses had been destroyed since Tuesday.
Thousands of emergency workers in Italy battled scores of fires in Sicily and the Calabria region, where a local official said arsonists had started fires by tying rags soaked in flammable liquid to the tails of stray cats to spread the flames. One firefighter died after falling ill while battling the flames in Sicily, the interior minister said.
The total area of land burnt so far this year in EU countries is the second largest on record, according to satellite data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).
Follow us for live European news
- 5
- 3
- 3
- 3
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
3 further sources not geolocated
Articles
France records 12,500 wildfires as probe opens into firefighters deaths France has recorded 12,500 wildfires since the start of the year, with 44,000 hectares burned. An investigation has been opened into the deaths of two firefighters on suspicion of deliberate arson, as 128 people have been arrested in connection with fire-related incidents.
yenisafak · 2 months ago
Última hora de los incendios en Madrid, en directo | Más de 11.500 evacuados en la Comunidad de Madrid y Castilla y León La presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, ha solicitado la medida y el Ejecutivo central asume el mando de las tareas de extinción
la vanguardia · 2 months ago
Wildfires sweeping through parts of Spain and France force thousands of people to flee Three firefighters have been killed as southern Europe endures more severe heat.
thejournal · 2 months ago
Frankrijk en Spanje slaan alarm om uitslaande bosbranden, noodtoestand uitgeroepen rond Madrid
parool · 2 months ago
Tens of thousands evacuated as wildfires rage across France and Spain France has sought help from the European Union as blazes, driven by extreme heat and strong winds, continue to spread.
thejournal · 2 months ago
/f.elconfidencial.com%2Foriginal%2F2d4%2F35b%2F99f%2F2d435b99f46352a35058030cf10ca56d.png)
Consulta el mapa de incendios en España en tiempo real: focos activos en Madrid, Ávila, Toledo, Zamora, Guadalajara, en directo La evolución de los principales focos mantiene movilizados a miles de efectivos en varias comunidades, con evacuaciones, cortes de carreteras y un amplio despliegue de medios para frenar el avance de las llamas
el confidencial · 2 months ago
Spain declares state of emergency and France seeks EU help as wildfires rage Wildfires fuelled by extreme heat and strong winds swept across western Europe on Friday, forcing thousands to evacuate in France, triggering a state of emergency in Spains Madrid region and prompting Paris to seek emergency assistance from the European Union.
france24 · 2 months ago
Regionale noodtoestand in Spanje wegens branden, Frankrijk vraagt EU om hulp Spanje heeft donderdag laat een regionale noodtoestand afgekondigd in de regio Madrid en de provincie Ávila vanwege bosbranden. Frankrijk krijgt binnenkort van enkele EU-landen hulp bij het blussen.
nu.nl · 2 months ago
Arsonists used stray cats as fire-starters during Italys wildfire emergency, police say
gdeltproject.org · 2 months ago
Wildfires fanned by scorching temperatures and strong winds are sweeping through parts of Italy, France and Spain, forcing thousands of people to flee as hundreds of firefighters backed by water-bombing planes battle the blazes u.afp.com/SreW
bluesky_AFP English · 2 months ago
Última hora sobre los incendios en España: Interior asume la dirección de la lucha contra el fuego en Madrid y Ávila El Gobierno ha decretado la emergencia nacional en Madrid y Ávila por los tres incendios que en las últimas horas se han complicado con virulencia, obligando al desalojo de 11.500 personas. En la Comunidad de Madrid han sido evacuadas más de 10.000 personas debido a tres incendios: uno en Villa del Prado, con afectación a Aldea del Fresno; otro en San Martín de Valdeiglesias, con afectación a Pelayos de la Presa, y otro en Almorox (Toledo), que se encuentra en fase de estabilización. En Ávila, el incendio que se declaró el miércoles en Burgohondo ha obligado a desalojar a 1.500 personas en un núcleo de turismo rural y una urbanización del municipio de El Tiemblo. Se trata de los incendios más críticos que enfrenta el país en este momento, después de que el fuego de La Mierla (Guadalajara), que ha quemado 32.000 hectáreas y aún permanece activo, haya mostrado una evolución favorable que ha permitido volver a los primeros vecinos a algunos de los 34 municipios que han sido evacuados.
eldiario.es · 2 months ago
Última hora de los incendios en la Comunidad de Madrid: El Gobierno declara la emergencia nacional, en directo La presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, ha solicitado la medida y el Ejecutivo central asume el mando de las tareas de extinción
la vanguardia · 2 months ago
El Gobierno declara la emergencia nacional en Madrid y Ávila por los incendios El ministro del Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, ha declarado esta noche la emergencia de interés nacional en el territorio de la Comunidad de Madrid y en la provincia de Ávila (Castilla y León) por la evolución de los incendios forestales declarados en Villa del Prado y San Martín de Valdeiglesias (Madrid) y Burgohondo (Ávila). Leer
expansion · 2 months ago
Spanien ruft Notstand wegen Waldbränden aus – Frankreich bittet EU um Hilfe Waldbrände halten die Feuerwehren quer durch Europa in Atem. In Spanien wird ein „Notstand nationaler Tragweite ausgerufen. Frankreich bittet andere EU-Länder um Hilfe. Auch im Saarland sind Einsatzkräfte beschäftigt.
welt.de · 2 months ago
Frankreich kämpft gegen Waldbrände: Mehr als 25.000 Menschen evakuiert – Macron bittet EU um Hilfe An der Atlantikküste und im Süden des Landes wüten die Feuer weiter. Auch Urlauber mussten in Sicherheit gebracht werden. Hunderte Einsatzkräfte sind beteiligt. In Spanien bleibt die Lage ebenfalls dramatisch.
tagesspiegel · 2 months ago
Regionale noodtoestand in Spanje voor natuurbrand, Frankrijk vraagt EU om hulp Spanje heeft donderdag laat een regionale noodtoestand afgekondigd in de regio Madrid en in de provincie Ávila, vlak bij de hoofdstad vanwege bosbranden. Frankrijk krijgt binnenkort van enkele EU-landen hulp bij het blussen.
nu.nl · 2 months ago
„Asche setzte sich auf den Wohnwagen, das kleine Nachtzelt der Kinder – Feuer wüten weiter In Frankreich, Spanien und Italien kämpfen Einsatzkräfte gegen verheerende Waldbrände. Tausende Menschen wurden evakuiert, Zehntausende Hektar Land sind zerstört.
welt.de · 2 months ago
Extreme heat fuels drought crisis across Europe, threatening water supplies Extreme heat across Europe is worsening drought conditions, drying up soils and rapidly depleting water supplies. The Danube River has hit historically low levels, while wildfires and crop failures have devastated agricultural land, with scientists warning of a fivefold increase in drought risk.
yenisafak · 2 months ago
Verheerende Waldbrände: Spanien ruft "Notstand nationaler Tragweite" aus, Frankreich bittet EU um Hilfe Der Notstand in Spanien gilt für die Hauptstadtregion Madrid und die nahe gelegene Provinz Ávila. Im Südwesten Frankreichs mussten knapp 30.000 Menschen evakuiert werden
der standard · 2 months ago
Kraftiga bränder – Spanien utlyser nödläge Bränderna fortsätter rasa i Europa. Sent under torsdagen utlyste Spanien nödläge i delar av landet.Snälla, var väldigt försiktiga, skriver Spaniens premiärminister Pedro Sánchez på X.
expressen · 2 months ago
La simultaneidad de incendios forestales en Madrid, Toledo y Ávila dificulta los trabajos de extinción Más de 10.000 evacuados de los municipios de Villa del Prado, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Pelayos de la Presa y Aldea del Fresno por los tres fuegos que afectan a la Comunidad de Madrid.
la vanguardia · 2 months ago
France fires: More than 20,000 people evacuated from Bay of Arcachon as heatwaves sweep Europe
gdeltproject.org · 2 months ago
Waldbrand: 3.500 Menschen nahe Madrid in Sicherheit gebracht
orf.at · 2 months ago
Schwere Waldbrände: Spanien ruft in zwei Regionen „Notstand nationaler Tragweite aus Der Kampf gegen die verheerenden Waldbrände dauert an: Für Madrid und Ávila gilt jetzt der nationale Notstand. Schon 125.000 Hektar Land sind dieses Jahr in Spanien verbrannt.
faz · 2 months ago
Spanje roept noodtoestand uit in regio Madrid vanwege bosbranden
de volkskrant · 2 months ago
El Gobierno declara la emergencia de interés nacional en Madrid y Ávila por los incendios La presidenta regional había pedido este jueves la intervención del Estado tras elevar el nivel de riesgo por los tres incendios forestales de Villa del Prado, Pelayos y Aldea del Fresno y la amenaza del fuego de Burgohondo Leer
elmundo · 2 months ago
Bränder rasar i Spanien – nödläge utlyst Höga temperaturer och starka vindar fortsätter att leda till rasande bränder i Europa.Frankrike ber nu EU om stöd – samtidigt som nödläge har utlysts i delar av Spanien.
svenska dagbladet · 2 months ago
Spanien ruft „Notstand nationaler Tragweite aus Schon 10.000 Menschen mussten wegen der heftigen Waldbrände ihre Häuser und Wohnungen verlassen. Durch die Ausrufung des Notstandes geht die Einsatzleitung nun direkt in die Hände militärischer Kriseneinheiten.
die presse · 2 months ago
Deadly wildfires in Europe force thousands to flee
bluesky_Euractiv · 2 months ago
Hundreds hospitalised in Japan heatwave disaster More than 450 people received hospital treatment for heat-related issues in a single day in Tokyo -- the highest number since records began 16 years ago, emergency services…
japantoday · 2 months ago