Firefighters in France and Spain are battling large blazes that have forced an estimated 200,000 people to abandon their homes, with thousands more being evacuated near Bordeaux, according to BBC live updates and other major outlets.
The fires have scorched vast areas of southern France and northern Spain, and residents in the Bordeaux region are taking emergency shelter as flames approach residential zones. Guardian and New York Times reports say more than 200,000 people have fled or are locked down, while tours of the affected zones describe a wall of flames, according to BBC coverage. Fire crews from both countries are working across borders to contain the blazes and protect life and property.
The widespread destruction reflects a pattern of extreme heat and dry conditions that have made Europe's summer season particularly prone to large‑scale wildfires.