The Spanish government declared a state of emergency on Friday, July 24, after approximately 20,000 people had to be evacuated from settlements near Madrid due to wildfires, AFP reports. In southern France, more than 60,000 residents have left their homes to escape two major fire outbreaks. "We are experiencing a critical situation not only in several regions of Spain but also in neighboring countries. I express my solidarity with all those affected and forced to leave their homes," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. In recent days, several major wildfires have erupted in the country, one of which is west of Madrid. About 19,000 people have already been forced to leave their homes in the capital region, and approximately 125,000 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fires in the vicinity of Madrid. **Fires in France: 60,000 people evacuated** In southern France, more than 60,000 people have been evacuated due to the fires: 40,000 from the Gironde department and 23,000 from the Landes department. French President Emmanuel Macron reported that Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia have sent planes and helicopters to assist in extinguishing the fires in popular tourist areas as part of the European Union's civil protection mechanism. The French Ministry of Defense also announced that it is preparing to deploy the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, which is capable of dropping 20 tons of water, to participate in firefighting efforts. However, it is expected to be ready for operation within 10 days, dpa reports. "The situation remains extremely tense due to the fires raging in the country, especially in the Gironde department," Macron wrote, referring to the situation in the region near Bordeaux, where the strongest fire has been raging. About 20,000 people were evacuated from there. Other major fire outbreaks in France are located near Marseille and on the Atlantic coast, according to Deutsche Welle.