Nearly 200,000 evacuated in southwestern France as high winds fuel fires across region
BORDEAUX: Wildfires spread toward Bordeaux in southwestern France on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents as firefighters battled flames intensified by strong winds.
The fires, which began earlier this week, have affected the Gironde and Landes regions near Bordeaux, with authorities warning that firefighting efforts would be prolonged and challenging.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the scale of the fires was unprecedented.
“The fires that are hitting our country have reached a level that has never been seen before,” Lecornu said in a post on X.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said Bordeaux airport had been closed as authorities responded to the emergency.
How Severe Is the Situation in France?
The wildfire moved inland and reached around 30 kilometres from Bordeaux, France’s ninth-largest city, according to officials.
Around 197,000 people have been evacuated from the Gironde and Landes regions since the fires broke out, authorities said.
French armed forces were deployed to support emergency services as local fire brigades faced pressure from the scale of the blaze.
The region is a popular tourist destination known for pine forests and vineyards, which have increased concerns over the spread of the fires.
Officials warned residents against unnecessary road and rail travel in affected areas.
How Are Fires Affecting Spain?
In neighbouring Spain, authorities continued efforts to control major wildfires near Madrid and other regions, with strong winds complicating firefighting operations.
Spain declared its first national emergency related to wildfires after three major fires affected the country, including two that merged on Friday.
The Civil Protection Service said four additional water-dumping aircraft were expected to arrive from Italy and Greece as part of a European Union emergency response. Firefighting aircraft from the Netherlands and Portugal had already been deployed.
More than 63,000 people have been evacuated or confined to their homes in Spain due to the fires.
What Are Authorities Warning Residents About?
Spanish officials urged people to avoid outdoor activities as smoke and ash affected air quality in parts of the country.
Health Minister Monica Garcia advised residents to limit physical activity outdoors and use masks if exposed to smoke or ash.
Officials in Madrid said some residents with second homes in affected areas had been evacuated after fires spread west of the capital.
Authorities linked the intensity of the latest wildfires to prolonged dry conditions and repeated heatwaves, which scientists say have been worsened by climate change.