German military sends help to fight French wildfires

Germany's armed forces dispatched two transport helicopters and an A400M transport aircraft carrying equipment on Monday to help tackle the massive wildfire on the French Atlantic coast. 

The German Defence Ministry said they are intended to assist French forces in fighting the fires in the Bordeaux area. The mission is initially scheduled to last five days.

"The devastating wildfires in France and Spain have deeply saddened the federal government," said spokesman Stefan Kornelius in Berlin.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is said to be in contact with French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez regarding the fires.

The deployment was reportedly prompted by a request from the French authorities. 

The French fire service is preparing for a mission that could last weeks or even months in the affected region.

The European Union is also coordinating the deployment of planes from several member states to assist France and Spain.