French Interior Ministry

Wildfires in southwestern France have burned 42,000 hectares, displacing 224,000 people. Volunteers like Jean-François Pauner assist firefighters amid heat and drought, while Ukraine sends aid. Europe faces widespread fires linked to climate change.

Firefighters in southwestern France are controlling the last hot spots of a massive wildfire that burned 42,000 hectares and forced 224,000 people to flee. Lower temperatures and higher humidity have eased pressure on crews, but officials caution the fire is stabilized but not stopped. Ukraine is sending 70 personnel and 10 vehicles to assist.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated the wildfire situation remains 'quite complicated' as fires in the Gironde region have stabilized but not been contained. The assessment follows a crisis meeting in Paris.

France is experiencing its worst wildfire season on record, with 116,085 hectares burned and 250,000 firefighters deployed to combat blazes in regions like Gironde and Landes. Satellite images show severe damage in areas such as Pontevès and Le Porge, where homes and forests were destroyed by fast-moving wildfires fueled by record heat and drought.

France's interior minister stated that a major wildfire has stopped growing after displacing 220,000 people in the southwest, though it remains uncontained. The minister emphasized the need for continued focus and determination to address the situation.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated the wildfire situation in southwestern France is 'very unfavourable.' Over 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, and 1,200 police, including a Swiss firefighting team, are deployed in Gironde to combat the blazes.

Spain declared a national emergency as wildfires forced 10,000 evacuations in Madrid, while France reported 40,000 evacuations due to fires burning over 10,000 hectares. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the blaze 'the largest of the season.'

A 'parcel bomb' exploded in a Monaco residential area, critically injuring two people. Surveillance video showed a man leaving a backpack before the blast, prompting a joint manhunt by French and Monaco authorities. Local officials condemned the attack and expressed support for victims and emergency services.

Eleven people, including the pilot and ten passengers from a parachutist school, were killed in a plane crash in Tomblaine, northeastern France. The aircraft appeared to suffer damage before crashing vertically, according to the regional prefect.

A cyberattack on a French government website managing identity documents and driver’s licenses may have exposed users’ personal data, according to the Interior Ministry. The incident raises concerns about data security and potential breaches of sensitive information.