More than 300,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in France and Spain as firefighters battle major wildfires burning across both countries.
One of the largest blazes is burning in France’s Gironde region, about 15 kilometres south of Bordeaux. The fire has generated a giant fire thunderstorm fuelled by its own winds and lightning, making efforts to contain it more difficult.
The wildfire threatening Bordeaux did not worsen overnight after winds eased and light rain fell, providing some relief to firefighters working in the area.
French President Emmanuel Macron is holding an emergency meeting to assess the situation and coordinate the response.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is due to visit fire-hit areas in the Valencia region as emergency services continue efforts to bring the blazes under control.
Thousands of displaced residents are spending the night in temporary shelters, including sports halls and exhibition centres, after being forced to flee their homes. Emergency authorities remain on alert as firefighters continue battling the fires across both countries.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
