Firefighters in France and Spain are urgently working to control extensive wildfires before a new heatwave is expected to hit Western Europe later this week. The blazes threaten key regions, including the French city and wine area of Bordeaux and zones west of Madrid.

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people in France, including tourists and local residents. In Spain, approximately 100,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes or seek shelter, officials said.

The fires in France, which began near the Atlantic coast last week, are now just 15 kilometres from Bordeaux's main metropolitan area. In Spain, while the spread of fires converging in central areas has slowed, the blaze in Castellon province remains out of control. Firefighters face an especially hazardous situation in Vall d'Uixó, Castellon, where old ordnance from the Spanish Civil War explodes when flames reach the ground, according to Chevi Bolumar, fire chief of the Valencian Regional Government.

July temperatures in Bordeaux and Avila have averaged 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), nearly 6 degrees above the normal high for the month, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor. France's weather office forecasts temperatures could rise to 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) later this week in the Bordeaux area.

Officials emphasize the critical nature of the coming days for firefighting efforts. "Today and tomorrow are absolutely crucial days in tackling this wildfire. From Wednesday onwards, weather forecasts become significantly more unfavourable for firefighting operations, but we remain confident," a spokesperson said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez highlighted the role of climate change, noting that wildfires are "more ferocious" and heatwaves "more frequent." The scale and intensity of the fires have been described as unprecedented.

"This is a fire of a size never seen before," officials remarked, adding, "It's like a clap of thunder for an area which could have done without this."

Sources