France orders evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as thousands flee wildfires Jakub Krupa Thousands of people have been forced to flee parts of south-west France amid worsening wildfires that prompted the authorities to order people to evacuate from the Cap Ferret peninsula along the Atlantic coast. Evacuees have been told to leave the area before 10am, using hundreds of mobilised boats or the only road linking the area with the mainland. More than 10,000 hectares are affected by the two concurrent wildfires, which last night crossed the firebreak established by firefighters.

The French authorities formally requested the activation of the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism to tap into the bloc’s resources as they battle the fires, with Emmanuel Macron saying the situation remained “very intense.” The EU’s crisis commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, confirmed that “following France’s activation of the EU’s civil protection mechanism, the EU is providing assistance and deploying 3 water bomber aircraft.” Dangerous situation is also unfolding in Spain, with the Spanish government declaring a national emergency over wildfires near Madrid and Avila, forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate. I will bring you all the updates here. It’s Friday, 24 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

South-east of France also hit by wildfires with 25 houses destroyed Over in France, it’s not just the south-west that gets affected, but the country’s south-east regions are also being hard hit, AFP noted. Dozens of fires flared up and are being fanned by the mistral wind around the historic village of Cotignac – officials saying around 25 houses had been destroyed since Tuesday. Over 110,000 hectares of land burned by forest fires in 2026, Spanish authorities say Sam Jones in Madrid In an update issued on Friday morning, Spain’s environment ministry said 114,796.42 hectares of land had been burned by forest fires so far this year, compared with 25,133.26 by the same time last year.

It also said that 29 big forest fires had been recorded so far in 2026. That figure represents a huge increase from the average of nine big forest fires between January and the end of July per year over the past decade. 'We are living through a dramatic situation,' Spain's Sánchez says on wildfires in Spain, France Sam Jones in Madrid Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez responded to the wildfires ravaging parts of country and neighbouring France, amid heightened warnings about their further spread.

“We’re living through a dramatic situation, not just in various Spanish provinces but also in regions of neighbouring countries. Forest fires are devastating thousands of hectares and affecting numerous communities. “I want to express my deepest solidarity with all those who are watching the fire burn their forests and threaten their homes.

The government has deployed all available resources. It will be by your side during the emergency and the recovery. Thank you to the BRIF (Forest Fire Brigades), the UME (Military Emergency Unit), the Security Forces, the Civil Protection System, and all the emergency services that are fighting day and night to stop the advance of the flames and extinguish the fire.” 'Extreme' fire danger around Spain as authorities seek help in battling wildfires Sam Jones in Madrid On Thursday night, authorities in the Madrid region asked the central government to step in and declare the fires around the region a national emergency.