A fast-moving wildfire in France's Gironde department has burned through roughly 2,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 tourists and 1,000 residents after igniting midday Wednesday in Saumos. The flames spread toward Le Porge and Lège-Cap-Ferret, prompting authorities to clear eight holiday centres and three campsites as a precaution. No injuries have been reported in the Gironde blaze, though two firefighters died Tuesday while battling a separate fire near Bordeaux airport. Le Porge's mayor suggested the blaze may have been sparked by brush-clearing machinery, and the local prefect banned all forestry work using combustion engines during the red-alert period.
Across southern Europe, fires continued to strain resources after earlier blazes hit the Var district and Mediterranean regions. In Spain, a new wildfire spread outside Madrid, destroying 32,000 hectares and prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to visit the affected area. Sicily battled 50 active fires while Calabria recorded around 160, some suspected to be deliberately set.