Wildfires are sweeping across south-western France and Spain, forcing over 300,000 people to flee their homes. The situation remains dire, with strong winds and high temperatures hindering efforts to contain the blazes.
The fires have already burned nearly 100,000 hectares of land in France and over 130,000 hectares in Spain, with the French government mobilizing its military to assist in the response. The city of Bordeaux is under threat, with flames just 40km away and smoke blowing towards the city.
"It's quite strong winds fanning the flames, just terrifying," said Spencer Randall, a tourist who evacuated with his family.
In Spain, a state of emergency has been declared, and authorities have reported the death of a man in his 70s who was found dead in his car. The EU has activated its civil protection mechanism, with water bombers and helicopters being sent to France and Spain from other countries.
The European Union's commissioner for crisis management, Hadja Lahbib, warned that the damage from wildfires in Europe is likely to surpass previous records, with forecasters predicting another heatwave. The situation remains critical, with many more outbreaks expected as the summer continues.