Wildfires that have swept across central Spain and parts of southwestern France have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, dramatically altering daily life in regions recently celebrating Spain’s FIFA World Cup victory. The blazes, which have consumed tens of thousands of hectares of land, have forced nearly 90,000 residents in several Spanish provinces to evacuate, while more than 250,000 individuals have fled their homes in the Bordeaux wine region of France.

In Chapineria, a town west of Madrid, 79-year-old retiree Ilyira Menendez is among those temporarily relocated to a sports complex shelter in Villaviciosa de Odón, about 40 minutes from her home. Though her property remains intact, Menendez expressed deep concern for a young family living nearby who lost their house entirely along with all their possessions, including those of their three children. “They have been left with nothing,” she said.

The uncertainty faced by displaced residents is widespread, with no clear timeline for when they might return to their homes or what condition those homes will be in. Rocío Domínguez, 35, who evacuated with only the clothes she was wearing and a kit for her two dogs, described the chaotic scenes during their escape. “It was madness with cars going up and down, traffic jams in the village streets as people tried to get out. It looked like the apocalypse,” she said from the shelter, where she now depends on aid for basic necessities.

Domínguez spoke vividly of the devastation visible from the evacuation site: ash-covered landscapes and the tragic sight of burned animals. She shares the shelter with her parents and siblings, highlighting the communal nature of the displacement.

Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia paid a visit to another shelter in Villamantín, 45 kilometers west of Madrid, on Sunday to hear firsthand the stories of evacuees and offer support. The crisis has shifted the nationwide mood from celebration following Spain’s historic World Cup win just last week.

In response to the emergency, the Spanish Football Federation has opened the facilities used by the national team for training to accommodate some of the displaced families, aiming to provide additional refuge during this time of crisis. Authorities in both Spain and France continue to battle the blazes and coordinate evacuations and relief efforts amid challenging conditions.