Madrid wildfires: Spain horror as huge fires erupt near city filled with British tourists | World | News

Huge wildfires are raging in two European countries popular with British tourists, causing the evacuation of more than 200,000 people. Forests are on fire in France and Spain, and thousands of people have fled their homes.

The most affected areas are Cap Ferret, located just 37 miles from Bordeaux on France’s Atlantic coast, and an area in Spain near Madrid and the province of Avila. In Spain, more than 1,000 residents have since been given the all-clear to the evacuated villages north of Los Gallardos, near the city of Almeria. A total of 60,000 were evacuated due to the blazes, the Spanish Interior Ministry said, while in France, 141,000 fled their homes in the Gironde and Landes areas, the Interior Ministry said.

France’s Interior minister Laurent Nunez said that the large wildfire that ravaged large swaths of land in southwestern France is heading toward the city of Bordeaux.

The Cap Ferret peninsula was also evacuated and around 1,500 people who fled the peninsula arrived by sea in the city of Arcachon, some aboard small water taxis and others on larger boats.

The wildfires that ripped through southeastern Spain and France were caused by heatwaves that reached around 40C. The extreme weather, combined with dry ground and strong winds, quickly spread the fires. Dozens of French firefighters were injured, authorities said, but no deaths were reported in either country

Last week, seven British nationals are among 13 people who have died after devastating wildfires swept through southern Spain, the country’s police have confirmed.

The government said a 93-year-old British woman was taken to hospital on Friday after suffering burns to about 20% of her body and her death was confirmed on Sunday afternoon. Another four British victims were found after their bodies were found in a burnt-out car.

It was reported that two British hikers had been found alive but badly burned. The man and woman are thought to have suffered 40% burns, according to the Spanish national broadcaster, RTVE.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the devastating wildfires in Spain. We are supporting British nationals affected and their families and remain in close contact with the Spanish authorities.”

Spain has suffered frequent and severe heatwaves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40C.