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Nearly 260,000 Evacuated as Wildfires Rage Across France and Spain

Wildfire continued to spread across parts of France and Spain on Saturday. Authorities ordered more evacuations as firefighters battled huge flames near Bordeaux and west of Madrid.

More than 260,000 people have been evacuated from areas affected by the fires.

One person also died in a wildfire near Valencia in eastern Spain. The fire was later brought under control, local officials said.

New evacuations near Bordeaux

French authorities ordered new evacuations in several areas near Bordeaux. One of the affected towns was Cestas, about 20 kilometers from the city.

Firefighters said the blaze had become extremely dangerous. The fire was creating its own strong winds and changing direction quickly.

This can make wildfires very hard to control.

Captain Nicolas Braz said the night ahead would be difficult for firefighters.

France has also called in the army to help. About 1,500 soldiers have been sent to support emergency teams.

For the first time, an A400M military aircraft was used to help fight the fire. The plane can drop up to 20,000 liters of water or fire retardant.

Thousands of people forced from their homes

Thousands of people have been moved to emergency shelters in the Bordeaux region.

Many evacuees spent the night in crowded reception centers. Some slept on camp beds, while others used floor mats.

One resident said people were told to leave after seeing huge columns of smoke rising into the sky.

The fires have burned more than 32,000 hectares of land. Authorities said at least 100 buildings and 140 homes have been destroyed.

Some residents have returned to areas where the fire is now under control.

Fires also burn in southern France

Another major fire is burning in the Var region of southeastern France.

The blaze has already burned about 3,250 hectares in five days. Nearly 2,000 people have been evacuated at different times.

A separate fire is also burning on the island of Corsica. The fire near Corte has covered more than 800 hectares, according to local authorities.

Firefighters said hot and dry weather was making the situation worse.

Large wildfires spread near Madrid

In Spain, authorities ordered the evacuation of eight more towns in the Toledo region, west of Madrid.

Earlier, officials said about 60,000 people had been evacuated in the Madrid region.

Two large fires joined together on Friday. The flames then spread across a huge area west of the Spanish capital.

The fires have burned up to 25,000 hectares of land.

Residents described difficult conditions in emergency shelters. Some said they struggled to sleep because of the noise and crowded conditions.

Hot and dry weather increases fire risk

Europe has faced months of dry weather. Heat waves in June and July have also made the ground and forests much drier.

These conditions allow fires to spread faster.

Firefighters in both France and Spain continue to work to control the flames. However, officials warn that the situation remains serious.

The wildfires are among the worst of the summer season, with thousands of homes threatened and hundreds of thousands of people forced to leave their homes.




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