Thousands of people have been evacuated from campsites, holiday villages, and apartment complexes near Lacanau on France's Atlantic coast as wildfires continue to rage.
Evacuation Orders in Gironde
Regional officials in Gironde confirmed the directive covers the seaside town of Lacanau-Océan and communities surrounding Lake Lacanau. Evacuees have been advised to pack essential items, obey emergency directions, and stay away until safety officials confirm it is safe to return.
President Macron's Statement
President Emmanuel Macron labeled the crisis the "most difficult situation" the nation has faced since the Second World War, as the total number of people displaced across south-western France passed 260,000.
Preparations in Bordeaux
In nearby Bordeaux, Mayor Thomas Cazenave confirmed authorities are readying for "all eventualities" and setting up facilities to "accommodate a large number of people should further evacuations be ordered."
Spain Also Affected
The crisis has also hit neighbouring Spain, where 63,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes near Madrid. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the widespread devastation as "the most painful expression of the climate emergency."
