More than 250,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes as uncontrolled wildfires spread across parts of France and Spain, with emergency services struggling to contain the flames.

In Spain, around 70,000 people were evacuated from affected areas in central regions, while France saw approximately 197,000 people flee, including large numbers from the wine-producing region around Bordeaux.

Spain declared a national emergency because of the wildfires, marking the first time the country has taken such action specifically due to a wildfire crisis. In France, officials described the evacuation effort as potentially the largest peacetime evacuation in the country’s history.

Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to battle the fires, but extreme weather conditions have made their efforts more difficult. Persistent heatwaves, dry conditions, and the effects of climate change have created an environment where fires can spread rapidly.

In Spain, strong winds worsened the situation, causing separate fires to expand and merge. Authorities warned that changing weather conditions could continue to challenge firefighting operations.

The wildfires highlight growing concerns across Europe about the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events linked to rising temperatures and climate change.