Wildfires prompt evacuations in France, Spain and Italy

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - PARIS — Thousands of people were urged to evacuate on Thursday as forest fires continued to blaze through parts of Europe.

Around 12,000 people have been evacuated from the southwest of France as the country battles ongoing wildfires days after two firefighters died near Bordeaux airport, French media reported.

Authorities in France evacuated 7,000 people "as a precaution" on Thursday north of Cap Ferret, near the tourist hub of Arcachon Bay. This brings the total number of evacuees in the area to 12,000.

The AFP news agency reported that 10,000 tourists were among those evacuated.

The Gironde region government said more than 2,000 hectares (4,000 acres) of land have been destroyed.

The Gironde region remains under a red alert, with some leisure sites in exposed forest areas to be closed on Thursday afternoon and evening.

The use of internal combustion and electric engines have been banned in predominantly forested areas, and a number of roads have been closed. No injuries have been reported on Thursday.

On Tuesday, two firefighters died while battling a fire that broke out near Bordeaux airport.

France has been paying tribute to the two dead firefighters. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez posted photos from an event that took place on Wednesday, the day after their deaths were announced.

He said the moment was filled with "immense emotion" as he expressed "infinite gratitude" and "unwavering support" to their families.

Spanish authorities ordered the evacuation of several districts around Toledo, south of Madrid, on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited a fire-ravaged area in Guadalajara, northeast of Madrid, where more than 30 villages were evacuated.

"Year after year we clearly see how climate change kills and destroys wealth in our communities," he said. "This isn't politics. It is science, it's about facts."

Around 6,000 firefighters, forest guards and civil protection officials have been deployed across Sicily after fires have raged for days.

Regional president Renato Schifani said about 50 fires were still burning despite the deployment of water-bombing aircraft.

And on mainland of Italy, in Calabria, more than 160 fires have been recorded.

Local officials in Calabria have accused "malicious individuals" of arson, pointing to rags doused in flammable liquid that were tied to the tails of stray cats to spread fires.

Meanwhile, authorities in Italy have paid tribute to a firefighter who died tackling a wildfire in San Cataldo, as Sicily President Renato Schifani wished a "speedy recovery" to another involved in the same operation.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi paid tribute to late firefighter Alessandro Marchi who he said died "in service to the community".

"He will not be forgotten," he said in a post on X.

In an update on Wednesday, head of the Sicilian Civil Protection Salvo Cocina said there had been more than 350 fires on the island including ten major ones which led to precautionary evacuations.

The latest fires come as Europe prepares for another heat wave with temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) forecast in some areas.

So far in 2026, wildfires have burned more land in Europe than the annual average over the past two decades.

Climate change is making extreme weather events such as heat waves and the forest fires that ensure more frequent and more severe.

Countries across Europe have seen record temperatures in recent months.

A report released in April by the Copernicus Climate Change Service found at least 95% of Europe saw "above average" annual temperatures in 2025 and identified Europe as the fastest-warming continent.

Wildfire-burnt area and fire emissions both reached record levels last year, the report said.