More than 10,000 evacuated as wildfire ravages southwestern France
More than 10,000 people were evacuated overnight in southwestern France as a wildfire raged Thursday near the coastal town of Lège Cap-Ferret, which is popular with tourists, on the Atlantic Ocean, reports BritPanorama.
Local authorities said the fire has spread over more than 4,900 acres, though no injuries have been reported. The Gironde prefecture confirmed that around 500 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the flames and bring the situation under control, as they described “the situation remains unfavorable.”
As a precautionary measure, evacuation efforts included many tourists staying at eight holiday camps and campgrounds located southwest of Bordeaux. Furthermore, over 1,000 residents living along the forest edge have also been forced to leave their homes.
Nine municipalities have opened reception and respite centers for evacuees, with more than 2,500 people taking shelter there, according to the prefecture. Southern Europe has experienced a series of large fires this summer, with scientists warning that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region increasingly vulnerable to wildfires.
This season’s wildfires follow a succession of heat waves that commenced prior to summer, causing widespread devastation across France amid record temperatures and dry weather. Vegetation has faced significant water stress, further heightening the risk of fire outbreaks.
According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, more than 12,500 wildfires have broken out since the beginning of the year, resulting in nearly 44,000 hectares of land burned.
