Raging wildfires in southwest France forced the evacuation of 55,000 more people overnight, taking the total forced out of their homes to 220,000 in the Gironde region alone. The flames have crept ever closer to the wine region city of Bordeaux.
Evacuations and Fire Spread
Authorities in the Gironde region issued overnight evacuation orders on Sunday for five more localities southwest of the historic city. Gusting winds fed the flames overnight, accelerating the spread of the fire, which has been burning out of control since midweek.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez said that after a 'difficult' night for fire crews, 'the situation remains very unfavourable'. He posted on social media: “The fire again became extremely virulent again and unpredictable, generating its own winds and advancing erratically toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area. It became calmer by the end of the night.”
Scale of the Blaze
The area that has burned, much of it pine forests and scrubland made tinder-dry by successive heatwaves this year, has grown inexorably, expanding by Sunday to an estimated 162 square miles – four times the size of Paris. A second fire burning further south in the Landes region has also forced the evacuation of 30,000 people this week, taking the total driven out of their homes by the blazes to more than 250,000.
Spain Also Affected
In neighbouring Spain, authorities oversaw a new round of evacuations because of wildfires in the Valencia region, on the country’s east coast. Uncontrolled blazes there and others west of Madrid this week have forced 116,000 people out of their homes.
Firefighting Efforts
Firefighters are battling to slow the flames’ progression toward Bordeaux, both on the ground and in the air, with planes dropping water and retardants. Other European countries have sent water-dropping planes, helicopters and firefighters. Soldiers have been called in to reinforce fire crews’ exhausting round-the-clock efforts.
The number of firefighters has grown to 2,500, backed up by 18 planes and helicopters, Mr Nunez said. A giant A400M military cargo aircraft that has been converted for firefighting will also be used again, he said.
Bordeaux mayor Thomas Cazenave described the fire as being 'at the gates of the metropolitan area', having advanced to about nine miles from the city at its closest point. The Gironde prefect ordered the partial closure of a major road heading in and out of the city.
