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Evacuations across Spain and France topped 110,000 on Friday as fast-moving wildfires spread through both countries, forcing thousands more people from their homes, triggering arrests and prompting additional European firefighting support.
Around 40,000 people have been evacuated or ordered to remain indoors in wildfire-hit areas west of Madrid as firefighters continue battling rapidly spreading blazes. In France, more than 71,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated as two major wildfires continue to burn across the southwest.
The EU separately deployed four specialized water-bombing aircraft to Spain and three to France after both countries requested assistance.
Spanish police arrested a man accused of igniting a large wildfire by operating farm machinery despite a ban imposed because of the extreme fire risk.
Another person remained under investigation over the same incident after authorities described the blaze as the result of a "seriously negligent act."
The Spanish government also declared a national emergency after multiple wildfires threatened communities near Madrid and in the neighboring province of Avila, placing the Interior Ministry in charge of coordinating the response under the National Civil Protection System.
Authorities said the measure was needed because several major fires were burning simultaneously, stretching emergency resources.
Officials warned that a massive wildfire near Madrid was close to merging with another blaze in neighboring Castilla y Leon, raising fears that the combined fire front could become even harder to contain.
At least 43 homes have been destroyed in one residential area as firefighters continue battling the advancing flames.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government had deployed "all available resources" to fight the fires, calling the situation dramatic not only for Spain but also for neighboring countries.
The largest French wildfire, near Arcachon Bay and the Cap-Ferret peninsula in Gironde, has scorched more than 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres), prompting authorities to evacuate the entire peninsula after the fire spread overnight.
No fatalities have been reported, though 27 firefighters have been injured while around 1,000 personnel, backed by water bombers and helicopters, continue to fight the blaze.
Another wildfire near Biscarrosse in neighboring Landes has burned more than 2,600 hectares, prompting authorities to order an additional 8,000 evacuations on Friday.
More than 31,000 people have now been forced to leave the area as around 500 firefighters remain on the ground. Forecasters warned of wind gusts reaching 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) and possible dry thunderstorms.
Around 500 firefighters remained on the ground as forecasters warned of wind gusts reaching 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) and possible dry thunderstorms.
France activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, with Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia sending aircraft and helicopters to reinforce firefighting operations.
Civil Security Director Julien Marion described the fires as "totally unpredictable" because of their rapid spread.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said France was battling 32 active wildfires and that more than 50,000 hectares had burned since Jan. 1, nearly three times the area affected during the same period last year.
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