Paris/Madrid: More than 87,000 people have been evacuated as devastating wildfires continue to rage across southwestern France and central Spain, with authorities struggling to contain multiple blazes fuelled by extreme heat, strong winds and dry conditions.

In France, around 67,000 people were forced to leave their homes after fast-moving fires spread across the Gironde and Landes regions. Some residents fled by boat after flames swept through the popular Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast.

The wildfire near Cap Ferret has burned through around 125 sq km since Wednesday, destroying homes and campsites in one of the country's most popular holiday destinations. More than 1,500 evacuees were transported by sea to the nearby city of Arcachon after road access became difficult.

Authorities said 53 homes and a campsite had been destroyed, while 42 firefighters were injured battling the blaze. A second major wildfire further south has also remained out of control, prompting additional evacuations.

French authorities believe both fires were accidental in origin. Around 44,000 people have been evacuated from Gironde and another 23,000 from neighbouring Landes.

President Emmanuel Macron said France had requested assistance through the European Union's civil protection mechanism. Croatia is sending two Canadair firefighting aircraft, Portugal two Air Tractor aircraft, while the Czech Republic and Slovakia are deploying Black Hawk helicopters to assist firefighting efforts.

Across the border in Spain, the government declared a national wildfire emergency for the first time after rapidly spreading fires forced around 20,000 people to evacuate their homes in the Madrid region and the neighbouring province of Ávila.

Two major fires west of Madrid merged into a single blaze that had already scorched around 30 sq km by Friday afternoon. Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso described it as the worst wildfire in the region's history.

Around 18,000 residents were evacuated from villages west of the Spanish capital, while another 1,500 people fled a separate blaze in Ávila, where approximately 90 sq km has been destroyed.

The fires are being driven by a severe heatwave, with temperatures forecast to exceed 39°C in parts of Spain. High winds and difficult terrain have further hampered firefighting operations.

Spain is also receiving international assistance, with Italy and Greece each sending two Canadair water-bombing aircraft.

Elsewhere, firefighters continued to battle major blazes in the Guadalajara province, where Spain's second-largest wildfire on record has burned around 320 sq km over the past week. Officials said more than 1,140 sq km has already been destroyed by wildfires across Spain this year — more than five times the area burned during the same period in 2025.

Wildfires are also continuing to spread across parts of Sicily in Italy, where soaring temperatures above 40°C have fuelled multiple blazes. A firefighter responding to one of the fires in Caltanissetta was killed earlier this week.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and drought conditions across southern Europe, creating more favourable conditions for destructive wildfires.