Raging wildfires in Spain, France seen from space, over 3,00,000 evacuated

Satellite images show major wildfires burning across Spain and France, forcing mass evacuations. The crisis has triggered emergency measures, international support and fresh warnings over extreme heat.Thick plumes of smoke and dust from the blazes have spread across southern France and into the Mediterranean. Europe is battling one of its most severe wildfire disasters in recent history, with satellite images revealing massive fires engulfing large swathes of Spain and France as authorities scramble to protect communities from fast-moving flames that have already displaced more than 3,00,000 people.Satellite imagery overlaid with thermal heat signatures shows intense fire hotspots stretching across central Spain and southwestern France.Thick plumes of smoke and dust from the blazes have spread across southern France and into the Mediterranean, while lighter smoke has drifted hundreds of kilometres across Central Europe, reaching as far as Poland.The largest blaze is raging in vila, west of Madrid, where officials say the fire has scorched more than 50,000 hectares of countryside, making it Spain's largest wildfire in recent history. The inferno is one of several major fires burning simultaneously across the country, including another rapidly expanding blaze in Castellón province that has already consumed more than 4,300 hectares.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez visited the devastated region on Sunday and announced that the government will declare a civil protection emergency for the worst-hit central provinces, unlocking additional funding and resources for recovery and firefighting efforts. Since January, more than 1,50,000 hectares have burned across Spain, six times the area destroyed during the same period last year.Across the border in France, the situation remains equally alarming. Wildfires have swept across the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast and continue advancing through forests surrounding Bordeaux, one of the country's most famous wine-producing regions.French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that the fire remains uncontrolled and is moving towards the metropolitan area of Bordeaux."We have a fire that is not under control. The overall situation is very unfavourable. We are in a situation that is unprecedented," he said.The blaze was reported to be around 15 kilometres from Bordeaux's outskirts, prompting overnight door-to-door evacuations in nearby municipalities including Marcheprime and Cestas.Southern Europe is still battling devastating wildfiresThe Gironde blaze in France has consumed over 103,000 acres and triggered nearly 220,000 evacuationsSpain has also lost more than 190,000 acres to the flames, with over 122,000 people affected despite significant progress pic.twitter.com/Wptg5dYfAj— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) July 26, 2026While authorities have not ordered an evacuation of Bordeaux itself, home to nearly 850,000 people in its wider metropolitan area, officials continue to monitor the rapidly changing situation.Authorities say around 2,20,000 people have been evacuated in France, while more than 75,000 residents have fled in Spain, with another 30,000 ordered to shelter indoors.The European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to bolster firefighting operations.Europe is burning. France + Spain: 250,000+ people evacuated this weekend alone. France: 98,000 hectares destroyed, a new national record. Worst wildfire crisis in the country’s history.Even the Tour de France had to cut its final stage. When wildfires cancel the Tour de pic.twitter.com/DOXFbJj8bZ— France Safety Travel (@francesafetytra) July 26, 2026Greece and Italy have each deployed two Canadair firefighting aircraft to Spain, Portugal has sent more than 100 military personnel, and additional aircraft from Turkey are expected to arrive shortly.Scientists say the fires have been fuelled by prolonged drought and repeated heatwaves intensified by climate change. According to climate data, average July temperatures in both Bordeaux and vila have hovered around 32°C, nearly 6°C above the historical average recorded between 1961 and 1990.The wildfire emergency extends beyond Spain and France. Large fires continue to burn in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park, while wildfires in Italy have forced motorway closures, disrupted railway services and prompted tourist evacuations in parts of Puglia and Sicily.As southern Europe faces another devastating summer of extreme heat and fire, authorities warn that the combination of dry vegetation, high temperatures and strong winds could keep wildfire conditions dangerous in the days ahead.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Jul 27, 2026 11:50 IST