France was preparing to use a massive specially adapted cargo aircraft to dump flame retardants Saturday on a wildfire that has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, including from some suburbs of the city of Bordeaux.

Including some 70,000 people evacuated in central Spain, wildfires in southern Europe this week have displaced more than 2,50,000 people. The government mobilised soldiers to join the battle and was rushing in 1.5 million face masks to protect against choking smoke.