Wildfires in Southwest France Burn Area Four Times the Size of Paris... Bordeaux Wine Region Also at Risk

Over 300,000 Residents and Tourists Evacuated

Wildfires that broke out simultaneously in the southwest region of France and in Spain have been spreading rapidly, forcing more than 300,000 residents and tourists to evacuate by July 26, 2026 (local time). The flames have been fueled by a combination of extreme heat, which has dried out the vegetation, and strong winds, burning an area of 42,000 hectares—an expanse four times the size of Paris.

According to international media such as AP and AFP, as of the morning of July 26, the wildfire had spread to a location approximately 15 kilometers from Bordeaux, the renowned French wine-producing region. The regional government where Bordeaux is located ordered an additional evacuation of about 55,000 people overnight. The number of evacuees in the area has risen to 220,000.

France has mobilized 2,500 firefighters, 18 firefighting aircraft, and even military transport planes in an all-out effort to contain the wildfires. French President Emmanuel Macron stated the previous night, "As the flames put our country to a severe test, France is demonstrating its unity," and added, "We will rebuild and restore." He also expressed gratitude to supporting countries such as Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and Croatia, and extended words of consolation to Spain, Greece, and Italy, which are also suffering from wildfires.

In Spain, where a national state of emergency has been declared due to the wildfires, 1,200 soldiers and 400 vehicles have been deployed to firefighting operations in Madrid, Avila, and Valencia. Approximately 60,000 people have evacuated from the Madrid area, 30,000 from Avila, and 15,000 from Castellón.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.