Wildfires in France: Fire Continues to Spread Toward Bordeaux
Wildfires in southwestern France remain out of control. The fire is approaching the city of Bordeaux, and further localities had to be evacuated overnight. Fires are also raging elsewhere.
The severe wildfires in southwestern France continue to spread rapidly. The prefecture of the Gironde department describes the situation as an unfavorable development. Overnight, additional localities between the Arcachon Basin and the city of Bordeaux, with around 55,000 inhabitants, were evacuated.
The fire is now moving closer to the greater Bordeaux metropolitan area, home to approximately one million residents. A strong smell of smoke hangs over large parts of the city. According to authorities, more than 40,000 hectares of land have already been destroyed — more than in all of France's wildfires from the previous year combined.
A "severe ordeal" for France
More than 200,000 people have already been brought to safety by authorities in the region. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described it as the largest civilian evacuation operation outside of armed conflict in the country's history. He said it would be a long time before the fires are brought under control and evacuees can return.
Mayors from the affected areas report exhausted firefighters. President Emmanuel Macron described the fires as a "severe ordeal" for France. Firefighters are also continuing to battle the flames in the Var department in the hinterland of the Côte d'Azur. According to authorities, more than 20 larger wildfires are currently active simultaneously across the country.
Several wildfires are currently raging in France and Spain.
