Europe is battling one of its most severe wildfire emergencies as massive blazes continue to rage across France and Spain. More than 300,000 people have been evacuated or confined, while thousands of firefighters are racing to contain fires near Bordeaux and Madrid before another extreme heatwave arrives. French President Emmanuel Macron has chaired a crisis meeting as firefighters continue battling flames threatening communities across southwest France. In Spain, thousands remain displaced as authorities struggle to contain multiple wildfires.

A massive wildfire has erupted in the historic Fontainebleau Forest, just 70 kilometres from Paris, forcing evacuations, shutting highways and disrupting train services. Hundreds of firefighters and water-bombing aircraft have been deployed as France battles one of its largest fires amid a severe heatwave. The blaze comes as much of Europe faces extreme temperatures, with wildfires, evacuations and record-breaking heat spreading across France, Spain and Italy.