French authorities have ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast as an 'intense and highly unpredictable' wildfire advances, forcing more than 40,000 people to flee by land and sea.
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Key facts
- Authorities ordered the total evacuation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula in south-western France.
- More than 40,000 people were being evacuated, including thousands of tourists, according to the Guardian.
- The fire had burned more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) by Friday morning, French interior minister Laurent Nuñez said.
- Evacuees were told to leave before 10am using hundreds of mobilised boats or the single road to the mainland.
Authorities in south-western France have ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast as an “intense and highly unpredictable” wildfire advances on one of the country’s best-known holiday spots, according to the Guardian.
The fire has raged in the region for several days, with officials saying on Friday morning that it had continued to progress overnight, the BBC reported. Officials moved to order the evacuation of the entire peninsula as the blaze spread.
The French interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, said the fire had burned more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) by Friday morning, according to the Guardian. He said 40,000 people were already or about to be evacuated, including thousands of tourists from campsites and rental homes.
Evacuees were told to leave the area before 10am, the Guardian reported, using hundreds of mobilised boats or the only road linking the peninsula with the mainland. Hundreds of people fled by boat as the evacuation got under way.
The situation remained active on Friday, with the fire described by authorities as intense and highly unpredictable as it moved toward the popular holiday destination.
Why it matters
The evacuation of a major French holiday spot at the height of the summer tourist season highlights the growing threat wildfires pose to coastal communities and visitors. The scale of the response, moving more than 40,000 people by land and sea, underscores how quickly such blazes can escalate.
Frequently asked questions
How many people are being evacuated from Cap Ferret?
According to the Guardian, more than 40,000 people were already or about to be evacuated, including thousands of tourists from campsites and rental homes.
How are people leaving the peninsula?
Evacuees were told to leave before 10am using hundreds of mobilised boats or the only road linking the area with the mainland, the Guardian reported.
How large is the wildfire?
French interior minister Laurent Nuñez said the fire had burned more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) by Friday morning.
Timeline
- France orders total evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfire spreads
The Guardian World: ‘Intense and highly unpredictable’ blaze forces more than 40,000 people to flee popular holiday spot Europe live – latest updates Authorities in south-western France have ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast by land and sea as an “intense
- France orders evacuation of tourist spot as hundreds flee wildfires by boat
BBC World: The fire has raged in the region for several days with officials now ordering the evacuation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula.
- France orders evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfire spreads – Europe live
The Guardian World: Evacuees have been told to leave the area before 10am, using hundreds of mobilised boats or the only road linking the area with the mainland Thousands of people have been forced to flee parts of south-west France amid worsening wildfires that prompted the authorities to order peo
- France orders evacuation of peninsula as hundreds flee wildfires by boat
BBC Science: The fire has raged in the region for several days with officials on Friday morning saying it had continued to progress overnight.