Wildfires Force Mass Evacuations in Europe

Raging wildfires across southwestern France and central Spain have forced the evacuation of over 250,000 people, with flames encroaching on the outskirts of Bordeaux and several villages near Madrid.

In France's Gironde region, 1,400 firefighters backed by specially adapted A400M aircraft dropping retardant battled to save homes, while Spain's prime minister warned that unpredictable winds and dry storms were creating a particularly dangerous phase.

The blazes have consumed vast tracts of forest, left cars charred and communities in limbo, with many evacuees unsure when they can return.

The crisis is being exacerbated by a prolonged heatwave and drought gripping southern Europe.