France and Spain Battle Unprecedented Wildfires Amidst Extreme Heat

Paris. Local administration has adopted high alert as the fierce wildfire spreading near the southwestern French city of Bordeaux has come within about 15 kilometers of the city. Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazeneuve said preparations are underway to accommodate a large number of people in safe places if more areas need to be evacuated.

French President Emmanuel Macron, inspecting the wildfire-affected area in the Gironde region, said the country is facing the most difficult and unprecedented wildfire since World War II. In Spain too, the wildfire west of the capital Madrid is out of control, causing a large number of people to be displaced in both countries. So far, about 220,000 people have been moved to safe places in France and more than 100,000 in Spain.

A warning has been issued that the fire control work could become more difficult as extremely high temperatures are forecast to increase again on Tuesday. According to President Macron, although the other wildfire in the Landes region has been brought under control, efforts to extinguish the fire in the neighboring Gironde region are ongoing. He said that although the situation has improved slightly compared to Monday, the risk of temperature rising, wind blowing, and the fire spreading rapidly again still remains.

Earlier, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had said that the wildfire had taken on its own speed and form, making it an extraordinary challenge. The mayor of Sestas town, south of Bordeaux, Jérôme Stefle, said it could be the biggest wildfire of this century. According to him, about 17,000 residents of the town were evacuated overnight two days ago as the fire spread rapidly.

So far, about 42,000 hectares of land have been burnt in the Gironde region, and 240 houses have been completely destroyed. He described the situation in Sestas town as extremely dire, stating that although the speed of the fire has decreased slightly, the risk has not yet passed. According to him, the fire can spread again if embers blown by the wind or a sudden change in wind direction occur. Protective firebreaks are being constructed to prevent this.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the country is facing an unprecedented wildfire season. According to him, since January, more than 116,050 hectares of land have been burnt in France, and 13,566 wildfire incidents have been registered.

He stated on social media X that 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by human activities. He said that most fires are caused by cigarette butts, barbecues, and careless construction or other activities.

However, he informed that not all wildfires are accidental, and some are intentionally set, leading to the arrest of 162 people on arson charges since July 6.

Wildfires have also spread in the Var, Landes, and Corsica island's Haute-Corse region of France. In Spain, the national state of emergency has continued for the fifth day due to the wildfire spreading in the western region of Madrid. According to satellite imagery, separate fires that started in the Almorox, Villa del Prado, and San Martín de Valdeiglesias areas merged to form a large wildfire.

This wildfire has affected more than 27,000 hectares of land so far. Local authorities have warned that this could be the most severe wildfire in the region's history. According to scientists, temperatures are rising globally due to climate change. Europe has become the continent where temperatures are rising most rapidly, leading to more intense heatwaves, water scarcity, and wildfires during the summer.