Conflict · ArchiveMacron: 'Toughest Crisis Since WWII' as Wildfires Force 300K to FleeAired July 28, 2026 at 8:33 AM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00More than 300,000 people have been0:02forced from their homes as wildfires0:04rage across France and Spain. The bulk0:06of the evacuations happened on July 26th0:09with numbers stabilizing by the 27th.0:11The total number of evacuees now exceeds0:13300,000 according to authorities.0:17French President Emmanuel Macron called0:19the wildfires the toughest crisis the0:21country has faced since World War II.0:23While Spain declared a national0:25emergency after 120,000 acres burned0:28near Madrid. The crisis unfolded rapidly0:30over two days.0:34Macron said the country is facing an0:37unprecedented challenge.0:40Here's a snapshot of the staggering0:42scale of this disaster.0:46These leaders are coordinating emergency0:49responses.0:52Climate factors are making these fires0:54more destructive.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗