France and Spain Wildfires Force Over 160,000 Evacuations Amid EU Aid Request
Madrid. Over 160,000 people have been evacuated to safe places due to severe wildfires spread across France and Spain. Due to strong winds and long dry spells, the wildfires are spreading rapidly, prompting both countries to seek assistance from the European Union (EU).
Wildfires have caused extensive damage in France's southwestern Bordeaux region and areas around Spain's capital Madrid. Officials have stated that about 141,000 people in France and about 25,000 people in the Madrid region have been evacuated to safe places.
More than 1,200 of the displaced include the elderly and disabled individuals.
About 44,000 people were rescued from the tourist Cap Ferret peninsula south of Bordeaux alone. Due to the fire, more than 50 houses have been destroyed there. Local residents and tourists were transported to safe places by boat and vehicles.
French President Emmanuel Macron has instructed the deployment of the army, seeking assistance from the European Union to control the wildfires. France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that the country is facing its most severe wildfire to date.
In Spain, Madrid regional emergency management chief Carlos Novillo stated that the wildfire around the capital has gone beyond the control capacity of firefighters. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to inspect the affected areas.
France has deployed about 1,000 soldiers to control the wildfire. Additionally, 1.5 million FFP2 masks will be distributed for residents in smoke-affected areas and rescue workers.
About 40 firefighters out of approximately 1,000 engaged in fire control in the Cap Ferret region have been injured. Officials stated that three firefighters died this week while controlling wildfires in France and Italy.
The European Commission has deployed three water-carrying firefighting aircraft for France and four for Spain as assistance. Officials stated that more than 13,500 hectares in France and about 6,000 hectares in the Madrid region have been destroyed by wildfires so far. Another wildfire spread in the Guadalajara region has burned over 32,000 hectares.
Scientists say that climate change caused by human activities has increased droughts and extreme heat, intensifying the risk of wildfires in Europe.
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This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
