7 mins ago21:46 Lauran O'Toole

A major fire near Madrid is "beyond the capacity" of firefighters to contain, according to Spanish officials, after three fires west of the capital have merged.

Juan José Fernández Ortiz, Director of the Regional Wildfire Operations Centre in Spain, told Sky News, that it was “impossible” to fight the fires directly because “the fire intensity is so high”.

Multiple fires in Madrid have merged (Image: Getty)

1 hour ago20:53 Lauran O'Toole

2 hours ago20:15 Lauran O'Toole

A British restaurant owner in Bordeaux said the city is “full of smoke and ash” and residents are having to wear masks if they go outside.

Lance Attwood, 58, owner of Sweeney Todd’s in Bordeaux city centre, told the Press Association: “It’s not really conducive to coming out.

“The town is full of smoke and ash, so there’s a big drop in business, people are just walking around town in masks.

“Our biggest concern is people’s safety and the safety of the emergency services.”

Mr Attwood has lived in Bordeaux for 25 years.

Bordeaux is 'full of smoke and ash” (Image: Getty)

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3 hours ago19:03 Lauran O'Toole

270,000 people have been forced to flee (Image: Getty)

3 hours ago18:57 Lauran O'Toole

Spain has recorded its first wildfire death as the deadly blaze continues to rage across Europe.

The man was found in a car in a ravine after dying in Manises, Valencia, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry.

4 hours ago18:21 Lauran O'Toole

4 hours ago18:02 Lauran O'Toole

Emmanuel Macron has isssued a fresh statement in which he said that the "flames are severely testing our country".

He said "the A400M is engaged in support of operations" and thanked "Romania, Croatia, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia for their invaluable support".

"This is Europe. In times of trial, it brings to life the solidarity that defines it."

He added: "Thank you to our firefighters, our military personnel, the civil security forces, our gendarmes and police officers, as well as to the farmers and entrepreneurs, who through their commitment and courage, relentlessly combat the fires.

"All civil and military resources are mobilized: civil security aerial resources, Canadair, Dash, water-bomber helicopters, reinforcements from across France."

4 hours ago17:39 Lauran O'Toole

An A400M military plane has embarked on its first firefighting mission in south-west France.

The aircraft is capable to drop 20 tonnes of retardant or water and can reach vulnerable areas, the French interior ministry has said.

400M military aircraft carries out first French firefighting mission (Image: Getty)

5 hours ago17:04 Lauran O'Toole

France's armed forces announced that 1,500 military personnel will be deployed by Saturday evening to support efforts to contain the wildfire.

Following a crisis meeting, the military said an "unprecedented" level of resources is being mobilised.

It added that troop numbers will be adjusted as needed in response to the evolving situation, with personnel assisting in evacuations and helping to protect homes.

France are to deploy 1,500 military personnel (Image: Getty)

5 hours ago16:48 Lauran O'Toole

Tour de France organisers have announced they are shortening the following day's final stage due to the ravaging French wildfires.

"In a spirit of national solidarity with the areas and communities affected, it was decided to adapt the route for the final stage from Thoiry to Paris," organisers ASO said in a statement.

5 hours ago16:35 Lauran O'Toole

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has revealed that nearly 100,000 hectares of land have been destroyed by wildfires since January, describing it as a “historic record” for the country.

According to Nunez, 98,000 hectares have been scorched so far this year—an area equivalent to almost 140,000 football pitches or roughly ten times the size of Paris.

6 hours ago16:21 Lauran O'Toole

EU countries have sent assistance to France this includes helicopters, planes and ground teams consisting of 40 personnel from a Romanian forest fire team, two Portuguese and two Swedish Air Tractor planes, two German and one Czech and one Slovakian helicopter.

Four Swiss light helicopters and 30 ground personnel have also been deployed.

Wildfires continue to rage in France (Image: Getty)

6 hours ago16:08 Lauran O'Toole

Evacuating the city of Bordeaux is a possibility, says France’s interior minister, as the fire is only 30km away from the port city.

He said all scenarios were under consideration, including evacuating the city of 260,000 residents.

He added that the authorities would do everything to avoid such measures.

6 hours ago15:59 Lauran O'Toole

An evacuated Bordeaux tourist says the smell of the blaze is so strong he can smell it 100 miles away.

Spencer Randall who is on holiday with his fiancée Andrea and two children told the BBC that they have evacuated to an area 100 miles east but can "still smell the wildfires from here".

The family left their campsite at 9pm local time with it eventually being evacuated at around 1am.

6 hours ago15:44 Lauran O'Toole

6 hours ago15:30 Lauran O'Toole

Nuala Kelly, a 75-year-old Irish tourist, says she has has never seen anything like this.

“Never, never, never, never, never, and I’ve travelled all over the world and been in all sorts of situations", says Nuala.

She adds: “It’s an experience, you know, I would be happy to do without it, but everybody’s been very kind here, very good, so we have to be thankful.”

Rows of camp beds and piles of food supplies are at Bordeaux exhibition centre.

Thousands have fled to emergency shelters (Image: Getty)

7 hours ago15:23 Lauran O'Toole

7 hours ago15:19 Lauran O'Toole

Wildfires have moved inland towards Bordeaux (Image: Getty)

7 hours ago15:12 Lauran O'Toole

Good afternoon.

My name is Lauran O'Toole and welcome to our live coverage.

Bordeaux in France has been sent an evacuation warning as wildfires approach the metropolitan area of the city.

We will provide you with live updates as and when we receive them.