Spain’s government declared a national emergency on Friday, July 24th, 2026, after wildfires forced the evacuation of approximately 10,000 people in the central Madrid region. Meanwhile, in southern France, around 40,000 people were evacuated due to a massive wildfire.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that the fire in France has destroyed over 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres), calling it “the largest of the season.” He added that as of the report, 40,000 people have either been evacuated or are in the process of evacuation, with no casualties reported.

The fires have caused significant damage, with about 80 homes burned and roughly 50 completely destroyed. In Spain, the national emergency declaration allows the interior ministry to oversee firefighting efforts across regions struggling against multiple blazes exacerbated by a heatwave.

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