Laurent Nuñez, the French Interior Minister, confirmed that about 2,500 firefighters, including a unit from Switzerland, have been deployed to combat the fires in southwest France.
Wildfires persist across southern Europe, prompting the evacuation of over 320,000 people in regions of both France and Spain.
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In southwest France, authorities ordered evacuations in five additional villages near Bordeaux by Saturday night due to intensifying fires exacerbated by drought and strong winds, leading to the displacement of more than 220,000 residents.
The current wildfire has consumed an estimated 42,000 hectares in this area.
On Sunday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez characterized the conditions as “highly unfavorable,” noting the Gironde fire had grown “extremely intense and unpredictable” during the evening before easing moderately later at night.
Originating on Tuesday in Saumos, the fire spread southwest to the zones of Le Porge and Lège Cap-Ferret by the end of the week, subsequently advancing eastward toward the metropolitan Bordeaux area over the weekend.
Nuñez indicated that approximately 2,500 firefighters, supported by 1,500 military troops and nearly 1,200 police officers and gendarmes, are actively engaged in firefighting operations.
Aerial firefighting teams are also contributing to suppression efforts.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reported on Saturday the deployment of five aircraft and two helicopters from the EU’s rescEU fleet to assist French firefighting efforts.
French officials estimate that around 100,000 hectares have been affected by wildfires nationwide since the start of the year, a figure Nuñez described as a “historic record.”
Additional departments impacted by wildfires include Landes, Var, and Hautes-Alpes.
Spain
Wildfires continue to affect the Madrid area and Ávila province across Spain.
Authorities in Spain have declared a national emergency due to fires in these regions, leading to the evacuation of nearly 100,000 individuals.
The Interior Ministry stated that the EU civil protection mechanism has mobilized several resources to assist firefighting operations.
Italy contributed 14 emergency responders and two Canadair aircraft; Portugal dispatched 129 personnel and 41 support vehicles, while Greece is providing 33 personnel along with two Canadair planes and an additional support aircraft.
Emergency mapping from Copernicus is aiding response efforts in both France and Spain.
Francisco Martín Aguirre, Spanish government delegate in the Community of Madrid, emphasized that the upcoming hours remain “critical.”
“A significant effort will be made to protect all facilities, homes, and neighborhoods in this zone where work has been ongoing throughout,” Aguirre commented to local media.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, addressing reporters on Saturday, highlighted that the priority is now to “save lives, safeguard communities, and combat the fires.”
He noted that government agencies at all levels coordinate to allocate resources effectively, provide aid for evacuees, and ensure government-backed support for recovery in affected areas.