Two firefighters have been killed battling a wildfire on the Cap Ferret peninsula in southwest France, as hundreds fled the holiday hotspot by boat.
Evacuation Underway
The blaze started on Tuesday in Saumos and spread across 8,700 hectares (around 21,500 acres). Authorities told people to leave via the main road to Bordeaux or take boats available between 7am and 10am local time from four piers. Over 400 people have been transported by boat from Cap Ferret, which lies along France's Atlantic coast west of Bordeaux.
Sophie Brocas, the region's prefect, said the “final phase” of the evacuation began early on Friday morning.
Firefighter Casualties
Two firefighters died while fighting the wildfire near Bordeaux Airport on Tuesday. Officials said there have been no new injuries as of Friday.
President Macron's Response
President Emmanuel Macron called the situation “very tense” and requested help from the European Union. He posted on X: “The situation remains under very high tension in the face of the fires ravaging the country, particularly in Gironde. My thoughts go out to our firefighters and the rescue forces who are battling relentlessly on the fire front. Their courage commands respect. I call on our fellow citizens to exercise the utmost vigilance. Every gesture counts to protect our lives, our homes, our forests, our landscapes.”
Macron added that aircraft from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia will soon be mobilised to support France.
Weather Concerns
Gironde fire service chief Marc Vermeulen warned that rising temperatures and strong winds could worsen the situation. He said Thursday: “The work was relentless all night. It'll peak at 8pm. Then we'll have to deal with... highly variable winds so we're currently tackling a fire that is going to be difficult to predict and that's why we cannot relax our guard.”
