More than 220,000 people have been evacuated from the region surrounding Bordeaux as devastating wildfires edge closer to the French city. Tourists flying into Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport are advised to check ahead because its hotel zone has been closed, leaving no accommodation available. However, all flights are expected to proceed as planned.
Evacuations and Fatalities
The raging fires have claimed several lives and forced more than 330,000 people to flee their homes in France and Spain. Dry conditions and changing winds have made it harder to control the fire, which has been burning out of control since the middle of last week, according to the Mirror.
The National Firefighters Federation of France said the fire has caused an unprecedented "pyrocumulonimbus" – a huge thunderstorm that can create its own winds and lightning.
Fires in Spain
In Spain, fires are out of control around Madrid, while some 15,000 people have been evacuated from Valencia.
Main Fire Near Bordeaux
The main fire is around nine miles south of Bordeaux, the country's sixth largest metropolitan area. Mayor Thomas Cazenave previously said there were no plans to evacuate the population of around 850,000. Approximately 42,000 hectares have burned in the area, its prefecture said – much of it forests and scrubland made tinder-dry by successive heatwaves, accounting for an area four times the size of Paris.
Travellers flying into Bordeaux hoping to stay overnight are advised to look outside the evacuated areas or at the Parc des Expositions, with the hotel zone at Bordeaux airport evacuated.
Weather Forecast
Today, temperatures are expected to be considerably cooler in France, with highs of around 26°C forecast in Bordeaux. However, this will be short-lived, with temperatures expected to soar to 35°C on Tuesday and 39°C on Wednesday. The Met Office says wind speeds will be relatively light today, ranging from 4 to 6 mph, which may help limit the spread of the fire. However, gusts of 12 to 14 mph could still increase the risk, carrying burning embers further and fanning the flames. It is expected to become sunny from around 1pm CEST onwards, creating hotter and drier conditions that could hamper firefighting efforts.
Government Response
This morning French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a crisis meeting addressing the fires at the Ministry of the Interior, attended by ministers of economy and trade. On Saturday Macron said France would need to "rebuild" and "repair" following the wildfires. He also thanked the Pope for addressing the fires in his Sunday prayers. Pope Leo referred to the "devastating wildfires" in France and Spain and urged people to pray for the rescuers working to tackle the fires, as well as those directly affected.
