Wildfires near Madrid trigger emergency state and mass evacuations

Wildfires are rapidly escalating across Southern Europe, particularly in France and Spain, driven by persistent heatwaves and high winds. France has recorded its highest wildfire frequency and area burned for late July since 2006, while Spain has declared national emergencies in Madrid and Avila due to uncontrolled blazes. The situation has prompted mass evacuations of tens of thousands, including tourists, and resulted in confirmed fatalities, with containment efforts ongoing and meteorological conditions exacerbating the crisis.