Wildfires raging across Spain and France have forced the evacuation of 200,000 people, prompting British tourists to review their travel insurance coverage. The blazes have led to mass evacuations in south-western France and central Spain.
Evacuation Numbers and Affected Areas
In France, 141,000 people were evacuated in the Gironde and Landes departments. Additionally, authorities in Bordeaux ordered the evacuation of 55,000 people on the outskirts of the city. In Spain, the Interior Ministry reported 60,000 evacuations due to the fires.
Official Response and Advice
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in Europe. I am in touch with my French and Spanish counterparts about the situation. British nationals should follow the advice of local authorities in the area, alongside FCDO travel advice."
Travel Insurance Guidance
Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.Compare, urged British tourists heading to affected destinations to check their policies. "Wildfires can move quickly and cause serious disruption, so if you’re due to travel to an affected destination, the first thing to do is check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice for that country and your specific resort or region," he said.
He explained that some travel insurance policies include cover for natural disasters under "catastrophe cover," but this is not always standard. "Look at whether your policy covers cancellation, travel disruption, alternative accommodation, emergency medical treatment and repatriation, and contact the insurer directly if anything is unclear," he added.
Jones stressed the importance of understanding coverage before an emergency: "Don’t wait until you are in the middle of an emergency to understand your cover. Check your policy wording before you go, know your insurer’s emergency contact details, and make sure your documents are easy to access online and offline."
He also warned against cancelling trips prematurely: "If you cancel simply because you no longer want to go, rather than because official advice has changed or the holiday provider has cancelled, you could lose the money you’ve paid and may not be able to claim it back."
