More than 300,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in France and Spain as wildfires, fueled by climate change driven heatwaves, continue to tear through southwest Europe.

French authorities ordered the complete evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on Friday, launching boats to help rescue people from the popular tourist destination.

Thick plumes of wildfire smoke also darkened the sky above Spain on Friday as the country’s government declared a national emergency.

Europe deals with wildfires every summer. But this year the continent has seen far more land burnt than the annual average for the same period, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

An aircraft dumps water over a wildfire burning near San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Spain, on July 26.
An aircraft dumps water over a wildfire burning near San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Spain, on July 26.
Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images
A forest ranger rescues a dog from a home near San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Spain, on July 26.
A forest ranger rescues a dog from a home near San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Spain, on July 26.
Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images
A burned out car and home are seen in Pelayos de la Presa, Spain, on July 26.
A burned out car and home are seen in Pelayos de la Presa, Spain, on July 26.
Oscar del Pozo/AFP/Getty Images
A firefighter takes a drink of water while battling a wildfire outside Bordeaux, France, on July 26.
A firefighter takes a drink of water while battling a wildfire outside Bordeaux, France, on July 26.
Emma Da Silva/AP
The sun rises behind the smoke of a wildfire in Escalona, Spain, on July 26.
The sun rises behind the smoke of a wildfire in Escalona, Spain, on July 26.
Pedro Nunes/Reuters
A firefighter prepares to spray water on a wildfire near Lège-Cap-Ferret, in southwestern France, on Saturday, July 25.
A firefighter prepares to spray water on a wildfire near Lège-Cap-Ferret, in southwestern France, on Saturday, July 25.
Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
A helicopter dumps water as firefighters collect water from a swimming pool in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 25.
A helicopter dumps water as firefighters collect water from a swimming pool in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 25.
Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images
A tree trunk burns in Lanton, France, on July 25.
A tree trunk burns in Lanton, France, on July 25.
Emma Da Silva/AP
Children play at a sports center after being evacuated from their homes because of the threat of a wildfire in Villamanta, Spain, on July 25.
Children play at a sports center after being evacuated from their homes because of the threat of a wildfire in Villamanta, Spain, on July 25.
Manu Fernandez/AP
A local uses a hose to wet the ground in Le Porge, France, on July 25.
A local uses a hose to wet the ground in Le Porge, France, on July 25.
Stephane Mahe/Reuters
Smoke rises as a wildfire advances near Hoyo de Pinares, Spain on July 25.
Smoke rises as a wildfire advances near Hoyo de Pinares, Spain on July 25.
Manu Fernandez/AP
An evacuees sits with dogs at a shelter for people displaced by a wildfire burning nearby in Bordeaux, France, on July 25.
An evacuees sits with dogs at a shelter for people displaced by a wildfire burning nearby in Bordeaux, France, on July 25.
Manon Cruz/Reuters
Firefighters battle a fire near a residential area in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 25.
Firefighters battle a fire near a residential area in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 25.
Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images
The sky over Madrid is shrouded in smoke on July 25.
The sky over Madrid is shrouded in smoke on July 25.
Carlos Lujan/Europa Press/Abaca/Sipa/AP Images
An Airbus A400M makes its first-ever drop over the wildfire near Lacanau, France, on July 25.
An Airbus A400M makes its first-ever drop over the wildfire near Lacanau, France, on July 25.
Abdul Saboor/Reuters
A firefighter stands on a truck near Lacanau, France, on Saturday, July 25, as wildfires rage in the area.
A firefighter stands on a truck near Lacanau, France, on Saturday, July 25, as wildfires rage in the area.
Emma Da Silva/AP
Firefighters work to extinguish flames in Lège-Cap-Ferret, France, on Friday, July 24.
Firefighters work to extinguish flames in Lège-Cap-Ferret, France, on Friday, July 24.
Stephane Mahe/Reuters
A helicopter flies over a fire in Avila, Spain, on July 24.
A helicopter flies over a fire in Avila, Spain, on July 24.
Diego Radames/Anadolu/Getty Images
Resident Juana Gonzalez covers her face to protect herself from smoke in the village of El Tiemblo during a wildfire affecting Castilla and Leon province, Spain, on July 24.
Resident Juana Gonzalez covers her face to protect herself from smoke in the village of El Tiemblo during a wildfire affecting Castilla and Leon province, Spain, on July 24.
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
Beach goers rest on the shore of Lake Lacanau in southwestern France on Friday, July 24, as clouds of smoke rise from the Gironde wildfire.
Beach goers rest on the shore of Lake Lacanau in southwestern France on Friday, July 24, as clouds of smoke rise from the Gironde wildfire.
Maximilien Lamy/AFP/Getty Images
A firefighter works in Avila, Spain, on July 24.
A firefighter works in Avila, Spain, on July 24.
Diego Radames/AnadoluGetty Images)
Firefighters work to extinguish flames in Lege-Cap-Ferret following a heatwave and water shortages across much of France, on July 24.
Firefighters work to extinguish flames in Lege-Cap-Ferret following a heatwave and water shortages across much of France, on July 24.
Stephane Mahe/Reuters
People disembark a boat during an evacuation operation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula, in southwestern France, on July 24.
People disembark a boat during an evacuation operation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula, in southwestern France, on July 24.
Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty Images
A helicopter attempts to extinguish the fire near in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 24.
A helicopter attempts to extinguish the fire near in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 24.
Gabri Solera/Europa Press/Getty Images
Residents spend the night at a sports center after being evacuated from their homes due to the threat of a wildfire in Cebreros, Spain, on July 24.
Residents spend the night at a sports center after being evacuated from their homes due to the threat of a wildfire in Cebreros, Spain, on July 24.
Manu Fernandez/AP Photo
Firefighters battle a wildfire in Cebreros, Spain, on July 24.
Firefighters battle a wildfire in Cebreros, Spain, on July 24.
Cesar Manso/AFP/Getty Images
Smoke hangs over a beach in Lacanau, France, on July 24.
Smoke hangs over a beach in Lacanau, France, on July 24.
Maximilien Lamy/AFP/Getty Images
Residents attempt to protect a building in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 24.
Residents attempt to protect a building in El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 24.
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
Smoke rises from the wildfire near Lège-Cap-Ferret, France, on July 24.
Smoke rises from the wildfire near Lège-Cap-Ferret, France, on July 24.
Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty Images
Firefighters work to control a forest fire in Avila, Spain, on July 24.
Firefighters work to control a forest fire in Avila, Spain, on July 24.
Diego Radames/Anadolu/Getty Images
The glow of fire is seen overnight in Navaluenga, Spain, on July 24.
The glow of fire is seen overnight in Navaluenga, Spain, on July 24.
Europa Press News/Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images
A firefighter works to battle a wildfire in the village of El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 24.
A firefighter works to battle a wildfire in the village of El Tiemblo, Spain, on July 24.
Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters
Electric guitars are placed on the ground as firefighters try to extinguish a burning house in Le Porge, France, on Thursday, July 23.
Electric guitars are placed on the ground as firefighters try to extinguish a burning house in Le Porge, France, on Thursday, July 23.
Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty Images
Residents look at smoke rising near Lège-Cap-Ferret, France on July 23.
Residents look at smoke rising near Lège-Cap-Ferret, France on July 23.
Julien de Rosa/AFPGetty Images
A French Civil Security aircraft flies past flames burning a forest surrounding Cotignac, France, on July 23.
A French Civil Security aircraft flies past flames burning a forest surrounding Cotignac, France, on July 23.
Thibaud Moritz/AFP/Getty Images
Evacuees take shelter in sports center in Villamanta, Spain, on July 23.
Evacuees take shelter in sports center in Villamanta, Spain, on July 23.
A. Perez Meca/Europa Press/Getty Images
A view of a wildfire spreading over the Burgohondo mountains, in Avila, Spain, on July 23.
A view of a wildfire spreading over the Burgohondo mountains, in Avila, Spain, on July 23.
Ana Beltran/Reuters
A firefighter sprays water on a burning building of a residential area near Lège-Cap-Ferret, France, on July 23.
A firefighter sprays water on a burning building of a residential area near Lège-Cap-Ferret, France, on July 23.
Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
Residents look at the sky illuminated by wildfires in Le Porge, France early on July 23.
Residents look at the sky illuminated by wildfires in Le Porge, France early on July 23.
Romain Perrocheau/AFP/Getty Images
Firefighters attempt to bring a fire under control the along the coast of southwestern France on July 23.
Firefighters attempt to bring a fire under control the along the coast of southwestern France on July 23.
Frédéric Munsch/SIPA/AP
Evacuated residents from the municipality of Aldea del Fresno take cover at the Villamanta Sports Center on July 23, in Villamanta, Madrid, Spain.
Evacuated residents from the municipality of Aldea del Fresno take cover at the Villamanta Sports Center on July 23, in Villamanta, Madrid, Spain.
A. Perez Meca/Europa Press/Getty Images
Firefighters spray water on a burning forest close to a residential area during a wildfire near Lege-Cap-Ferret, southwestern France, on July 23, 2026.
Firefighters spray water on a burning forest close to a residential area during a wildfire near Lege-Cap-Ferret, southwestern France, on July 23, 2026.
Julien de Rosa/AFP/Getty Images