Wildfires raging across southwest France and northern Spain have forced more than 300,000 people to flee their homes. The Foreign Office has warned British tourists to avoid the Bordeaux region, where flames have advanced to within nine miles of the city.
Foreign Office warns tourists
The updated travel advice states: "French authorities have evacuated campsites, tourist accommodation and some residential areas. Access to affected areas may be restricted and roads may close at short notice. Further evacuations may take place." It urges travellers to follow instructions from local authorities and call 112 for emergency help.
Local official Sophie Brocas said: "We urge tourists not to come to this region, at least until the situation is under control. I encourage tourists who are already here to consider another destination."
ABTA also advised Brits to monitor local news and check Foreign Office advice before travelling.
British residents affected
Karen Kissane, 51, from Newcastle, returned to her home in Bordeaux from Barcelona and said: "When I got off the plane and walked down the steps, the smell of burning in the air really hit me. It just felt really hot and humid, and there was wind in the air that was blowing the burning smell around." She added that friends with holiday properties in Cap Ferret had been evacuated at 3am.
Jérôme Sordel, 53, an estate agent from Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, said he and his family were ordered to leave on Saturday night. "We spoke to our children and we just prepared a small backpack with the essentials: some shirts, some clothes, a bottle of water, and masks. Masks because there was a lot of smoke, just to protect ourselves. And all our identity papers. And that's it - we just left."
Blazes in France and Spain
In the Gironde region, more than 220,000 people have been evacuated. Fires have charred 162 square miles. Local authorities in Bordeaux are considering a total evacuation of the city's 260,000 residents as flames approach its outer limits. Mayor Thomas Cazenave described the blaze as being "at the gates" of the wider metropolitan area.
A major highway has been partially closed, and SNCF has suspended rail traffic south of Bordeaux until further notice.
In Spain, fires continue in rural areas west of Madrid, leading to 70,000 evacuations. One person died on Saturday in Manises after being found in a car near a forest fire. A new blaze near Valencia was described by local mayor Tania Baños as becoming "completely uncontrollable".
Firefighting efforts and heat
Thousands of firefighters in France and Spain, supported by water-bombing aircraft from other European nations, are battling the flames. Task made difficult by temperatures over 40°C, drought, and shifting coastal winds.
Pope Leo XIV asked worshippers to pray for victims of "the devastating wildfires".
In the UK, a yellow heat alert has been issued from Tuesday to Friday for parts of England, with temperatures reaching up to 33°C. The UK Health Security Agency warned of possible “significant impacts” on health and social care services.
The article notes that wildfires, low water levels and drought are a result of record-breaking temperatures and human-caused climate change.
