Spain and France Evacuate 80,000 from Wildfires
More than 80,000 people have been evacuated from wildfires in Spain and France. Madrid declared a national emergency after two fires merged near the city.
The fires spread west toward populated areas. In France leaders ordered evacuation of Cap Ferret.
Cap Ferret is a popular vacation spot on the Atlantic coast. Tens of thousands left by car and boat from southwestern France.
Sources say over 60,000 residents evacuated in France alone. About 40,000 came from Gironde and 23,000 from Landes.
In Spain roughly 19,000 to 20,000 people evacuated from villages in Ávila province. Those villages include La Adrada, Burgohondo and Cebreros.
Both France and Spain asked fellow European Union members for help. French President Emmanuel Macron said reinforcements would include aircraft and helicopters.
These would come from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Later estimates put the total evacuated at around 87,000. Dozens of firefighters were reported injured.
Key Terms 3
- Cap Ferret A popular vacation area on France's Atlantic coast.
- Ávila province A region in Spain with several small villages.
- European Union A group of European countries that work together closely.