World News for Students of English

03-08-2026 07:00

Thousands of firefighters across France and Spain are battling massive wildfires that have forced nearly 375,000 people to evacuate their homes. It is one of Europe’s largest evacuation efforts since World War II.

In southwestern France, blazes near Bordeaux have burned tens of thousands of hectares, destroyed property and left thick ash in the air. Meanwhile, thousands have been evacuated in Spain’s Valencia region. Supported by international aircraft and personnel, emergency crews worked around the clock during a brief period of cooler weather to contain the flames. However, many fires remain out of control, and forecasted heatwaves with temperatures up to 38°C threaten to intensify the crisis.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez blamed global warming for escalating disasters and called for national action to address climate emergencies. The damage is terrible, and politicians are already arguing, but local teams and helpful volunteers have managed to keep people safe so far.

Difficult words: around the clock (all day and all night without stopping), contain (to stop something dangerous or harmful from spreading or getting worse), intensify (to become stronger, greater, or more serious).

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