Historic Wildfires Continue to Rage Across France and Spain, Forcing Hundreds of Thousands to Evacuate

Devastating wildfires, exacerbated by heatwaves and scant rainfall, are continuing to burn across France and Spain, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people in one of Europe's largest displacement efforts since World War II. The European Union has deployed significant assistance, including planes, helicopters, and personnel, under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to aid firefighting efforts in both countries. More than 242,000 acres have burned in France and over 300,000 acres in Spain this year, with authorities warning of worsening conditions due to expected rising temperatures.