Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference. Read more Photos from Spain and France show the widespread destruction caused by the massive wildfires in both countries .

The fires have burned through hundreds of thousands of acres of land and forced the large-scale evacuations of residents.

Enormous areas of the countryside have been destroyed, along with homes and businesses .

More than 300,000 people have been displaced.

Meanwhile, a rare fire cloud has formed over the city of Bordeaux – a rare phenomenon typically witnessed during volcanic eruptions.

“This smoke cloud generates its own weather system, causing anything in its path to spontaneously combust ... It is unprecedented in France,” said Eric Brocardi, a spokesperson for the National Firefighters Federation of France.

This aerial view shows damaged houses in a burnt area in the town of Le Porge, France (AFP/Getty) The ruins of a burnt-out warehouse following a wildfire in Casavieja, 100km south-west of Madrid (AFP/Getty) Smoke billowing from a wilfire in Burgohondo, west of Madrid (AFP/Getty) Firefighters battle a wildfire in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Spain (AP) A burnt-out vehicle is seen following a wildfire in Chapineria, 50km west of Madrid (AFP/Getty) Firefighters battle a forest fire in Saint-Jean-d'Illac, France (AFP/Getty) The charred remains of a young deer lie on the ground following a wildfire in the Burguillo reservoir area near Navaluenga, 100km west of Madrid (AFP/Getty) Water-bombing helicopter, Airbus Helicopter H125, drops water over a burning area during a wildfire in front of Barjols, southeastern France (AFP/Getty) A firefighter gestures next to burning trees as a wildfire rages near Marcheprime, outside Bordeaux (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) A plane flies as smoke rises from a wildfire in La Vall d'Uixo, Castellon, Spain (Reuters) Firefighters battle a wildfire in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, west of Madrid (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Firefighters burn vegetation to create a fuel-free buffer zone as they fight a huge wildfire in Marcheprime, west of Bordeaux (AFP/Getty) This aerial view shows damaged houses in a burnt area in the French town of Le Porge (AFP/Getty) A large pine tree with its hollowed trunk still burning from the inside, is seen in a scorched forest following a wildfire near La Adrada, 95km west of Madrid (AFP/Getty) Burnt-out vehicles are seen in an industrial estate following a wildfire in Chapineria, Spain (AFP/Getty) Firefighters battle a wildfire near Marcheprime, France (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The 220,000 people evacuated due to the massive wildfire in France's Gironde region will not be able to return home ‘until the fire has been brought under control’, the local prefect said (AFP/Getty)