France has formally asked for assistance from other European Union countries as it battles devastating wildfires in the southwest of the country. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France has activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, seeking urgent support, particularly for aerial firefighting. Aircraft and helicopters from Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are expected to join the efforts in the coming days.
Local fire brigades are stretched to their limits, and eyewitnesses in the Gironde region have described the situation as apocalyptic.
In the area around Lège-Cap-Ferret, fresh evacuations are underway, while a wildfire that erupted on Wednesday has already destroyed around 5,000 hectares of land. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of up to 23,000 people in and around Biscarrosse, not far from the iconic Dune du Pilat.
Spain is also grappling with major wildfires, with the government declaring a national state of emergency in two regions. The most critical situation is west of Madrid, where 10,000 residents have already been forced to leave their homes. Forecasts indicate there will be no rainfall for at least the next ten days, raising concerns about the spread of the fires.
Meanwhile, the wildfire situation on Sicily remains tense, particularly in the Palermo area. Unrelenting high temperatures, sometimes exceeding 40°C, combined with dry conditions and strong Scirocco winds from Africa continue to fuel the flames.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in recent days for safety reasons. Around Palermo, authorities have ordered evacuations, closed roads, and deployed fire crews both on the ground and by air in a massive effort to contain the blazes.
All of Sicily is now on the highest wildfire alert level as emergency services work to bring the fires under control. Travellers and residents are being urged to heed warnings issued by the Protezione Civile and local authorities, as wind and heat could rapidly change the situation.
