The wildfires that have been sweeping across France and Spain have left a trail of devastation in their wake, with more than 340,000 people forced to flee their homes. The worst-affected country is France, where an area of 42,000 hectares has been burnt, making it one of the largest forest fires since the second world war.
The situation in France is particularly dire, with dry vegetation and brisk winds causing the fire to spread rapidly. In the Gironde region, south of Bordeaux, 55,000 more people have been evacuated in the past few days, bringing the total number of evacuees in France to over 280,000. The fire has created 'its own winds - complete with whirlwinds', according to Captain Nicolas Braz, one of the leaders of the firefighting operation.
The French government has mobilised its military to help with the response, with extra reinforcements from the army sent to help firefighters clear brush and create fire breaks. President Emmanuel Macron has pledged that France will 'rebuild' and that his government will 'be there for as long as is needed'.
In Spain, fires continue to spread, with more than 90,000 people evacuated from the regions around Madrid and Ávila. Late on Saturday, at least eight municipalities near Toledo were also ordered to evacuate, though it was unclear how many people were involved. Madrid's regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, described the situation as the 'worst fire in the history of the region', while Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez admitted that there were 'complex times ahead'. Authorities in València have confirmed the death of a man in a fire.
The situation is expected to worsen on Sunday, with high temperatures and low humidity potentially allowing the fire to spread further. The Foreign Office has not issued any specific travel advice for the UK, but advised British nationals to follow local authorities' instructions and to stay informed about the situation.