Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Europe battles wildfires displacing 250,000 as Tour de France shortened
Very big fires, called wildfires, are burning in countries in southern Europe like France, Spain, Croatia, and Greece.
The fires are so large that more than 250,000 people had to leave their homes to be safe.
In Spain, about 70,000 people left their homes, and sadly one person died in a town called Manises.
France sent a huge military airplane, the A400M, to drop firefighting liquid on the flames.
The fire came close to the famous French city of Bordeaux, and about 140 homes were destroyed nearby.
Even the big bicycle race, the Tour de France, made its last day shorter so police could help fight the fires instead.
In Croatia, a fire rushed into the seaside town of Omis, and many people were hurt.
In Greece, hundreds of holidaymakers had to escape from a beach by boat.
Hot, dry weather, which scientists say climate change makes worse, helps the fires spread very quickly.
Firefighters from countries like Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are coming to help put out the fires.
Wildfires across southern Europe have displaced more than 250,000 people, including about 70,000 evacuated in central Spain.
France deployed its A400M military transport plane to drop flame retardants as fires threatened Bordeaux, destroying about 140 homes in the Gironde region.
The Tour de France's final stage was shortened from 133 to 89 kilometres and will be raced inside Paris to free up security personnel for firefighting.
In Croatia, a wind-driven fire hit the tourist town of Omis, forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate; health officials said 14 of 36 people treated in Split were hospitalised.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said fires have burned 130,000 hectares in Spain this year, up from an annual average of 100,000 hectares, with scientists linking the hot, dry weather to climate change.
- Who
- European governments and emergency services, including French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, battling fires in France, Spain, Croatia and Greece.
- What
- Severe wildfires fueled by heat and drought displaced more than 250,000 people, destroyed about 140 homes in France's Gironde region, and forced the Tour de France's final stage to be shortened.
- When
- Mid-August 2026, with the most intense firefighting reported around August 13-14, 2026.
- Where
- Southern Europe, including the Gironde and Landes regions in southwestern France, central Spain west of Madrid and the Valencia region, Omis on Croatia's Dalmatian coast, and the Halkidiki peninsula in Greece.
- Why
- Hot weather and drought that scientists link to climate change created ideal conditions for wildfires across Europe this summer.
- People displaced
- More than 250,000 across southern Europe
- Evacuated in central Spain
- About 70,000 people
- Confirmed deaths
- 1 (Manises, Valencia region, Spain)
- Homes destroyed in Gironde, France
- About 140
- Tour de France final stage
- Cut from 133 km to 89 km, raced inside Paris
- French firefighters deployed to Gironde
- 1,400
- Spanish emergency personnel deployed
- 2,600 firefighters, police and other staff with 19 aircraft
- Forest burned in Spain in 2026
- 130,000 hectares (vs 100,000 annual average)