Columns of pitch-black smoke rise endlessly along the road.

Firefighting aircraft and engines rush to the scene without a break, and workers are busy cutting down healthy trees and plowing up grasslands in the fields.

[Joe Meunier / Spokesperson, Gironde Fire Department: It is to cut off the fuel as much as possible. Once we do that and position fire engines here, we can establish a firebreak to prevent the flames from spreading.]

The Gironde wildfires, which started on the famous French resort peninsula of Cap Ferret, are spreading eastward at an alarming speed.

The flames have closed in to just about 20 kilometers from downtown Bordeaux.

As of the morning of the 26th local time, 42,000 hectares—four times the area of Paris—have been burned, and 256,000 people have been evacuated.

Remaining residents are locked in a desperate struggle to protect Bordeaux, a world-renowned wine-producing region, from the ravages of the fire.

[Hernandez / President, Gironde Young Farmers Association: It is to protect our precious home. If we pump water quickly, firefighters can focus on extinguishing the fire.]

In Spain, where a national state of emergency has been declared, the flames have reached the capital region of Madrid.

Parts of the city have been turned to ashes, with evacuation orders issued for 60,000 residents in Madrid alone and over 100,000 when including neighboring areas.

[Dominguez / Evacuated Resident, Madrid: Cars were tangled up everywhere, and every road was packed with vehicles trying to get out, making it absolute chaos. It felt like watching the end of the world.]

Fueled by extreme heatwaves that have dried out grass and trees, combined with strong winds, the fires show little sign of subsiding.

The European Union has activated its disaster response cooperation system, deploying firefighting aircraft and suppression personnel to France and Spain.

Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for those affected by the unprecedented wildfires and for the rescue workers.

Reported by Kim Young-ah | Produced by Bae Jun-hwi | Video by Jung Sung-hoon | Produced by SBS Digital News