Spain Declares Madrid Fires National Emergency as 200,000 in Spain and France Flee or Shelter
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 25
Spain Declares Madrid Fires National Emergency as 200,000 in Spain and France Flee or Shelter
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 25
Summary
Spain declared the Madrid-region wildfires a national emergency, while Spain and France both sought additional European Union aid as fires pushed toward populated areas.
About 200,000 people across the two countries either fled their homes or were told to stay indoors after intense summer heat fueled dozens of fast-moving blazes.
In Spain, officials called one blaze the worst wildfire in Madrid region history; in France, authorities described two major fires as the “ogres of the summer.”
Evacuations by land and sea hit areas including the Cap Ferret peninsula in southwestern France, where a single main road out added to traffic jams and disruption.
Smoke from the fires spread across southern Europe, darkening skies and underscoring how extreme heat is amplifying wildfire risks across the region.