Wildfires rage near Madrid in Spain, French firefighters battle "fire whirls"
In total, about 330,000 people have been evacuated.
Another 55,000 people have been evacuated from six settlements in France due to wildfires that continue to spread across the country. The latest evacuation affected towns south of Bordeaux, in the Gironde region, writes the BBC.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin (Laurent Nuñez in original text, but Gérald Darmanin is current) stated that the situation in the region remains "very unfavorable," and the fire "is moving chaotically towards Bordeaux."
Over the past week, wildfires have erupted in several European countries, primarily France and Spain, where a total of more than 330,000 people have been evacuated.
The most difficult situation has developed in France. The fire has destroyed 42,000 hectares of territory, making this one of the largest wildfires in the country since World War II.
In total, about 98,000 hectares have burned in France since the beginning of the year.
Captain Nicolas Bras, one of the leaders of the firefighting operation, stated that the fire created "its own winds — up to whirls," and called its behavior "unpredictable and uncontrollable."
The spread of the fire is exacerbated by dry vegetation and strong winds. Due to the fire, a 60-kilometer section of the A63 motorway, which leads to Spain, has been closed.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin (Laurent Nuñez in original text) said in an interview with La Tribune, published on Sunday, that "it will take a long time" to contain the fire. Until the fire can be brought under control, evacuated residents and tourists will not be able to return.
France has deployed military personnel to fight the fires. Additional army units are helping firefighters clear vegetation and create firebreaks.
Dry vegetation and strong winds continue to fuel the spread of the fire, leading to the closure of 60 km of the A63 motorway, which connects France to Spain.
On Sunday afternoon, all flights from Bordeaux Airport showed delays starting at 17:15 on the departure and arrival boards.
Bordeaux Airport reported that air traffic control restrictions were imposed "to facilitate the work of emergency services" fighting the fires, affecting all commercial flights.
How long the delays will last is not yet known, the airport added.
President Emmanuel Macron stated that France "will rebuild everything," and the government will provide assistance "for as long as necessary."
Meanwhile, in Spain, fires continue to spread. More than 90,000 people have been evacuated from areas around Madrid and Ávila.
Late Saturday evening, authorities also ordered the evacuation of at least eight municipalities in the vicinity of Toledo, but the number of residents whose lives have been affected by the disaster is not yet known.
The head of the autonomous community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, called the ongoing situation "the worst fire in the region's history."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that "difficult times" lie ahead.
On Saturday night into Sunday, a new fire broke out near the coastal city of Valencia.
The head of the Valencia region, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, stated: "The fire has gone beyond our capabilities." Valencia authorities confirmed the death of a man due to the fire.
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