More than 250,000 people have been forced to leave their homes as fast-moving wildfires continue to burn across parts of France and Spain, prompting one of Europe’s largest emergency responses in recent years.

Authorities say prolonged heat, dry conditions and strong winds have fuelled fires that have threatened communities, disrupted transport and stretched firefighting resources.

France has evacuated about 197,000 people, mainly from the Gironde and Landes regions near Bordeaux, where firefighters, military personnel and aircraft are battling advancing flames.

The French government has deployed an A400M military transport aircraft capable of dropping large quantities of fire retardant, while additional crews have been sent from other European countries.

In Spain, around 70,000 people have been evacuated from areas west of Madrid after several fires merged into larger blazes. Officials declared the country’s first national wildfire emergency, while an elderly man died in the Valencia region, marking the first reported fatality linked to the fires.

Emergency authorities in both countries have warned residents to remain alert as changing winds could rapidly alter fire behaviour. Smoke has also affected air quality, prompting health advisories in several regions.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heatwaves across southern Europe, creating conditions that allow wildfires to spread more rapidly.

Fire crews continue working to contain the blazes, although officials caution that further hot and dry weather could hamper efforts in the coming days.