Firefighters in south-west France are working to contain a huge wildfire near Bordeaux that, according to the Guardian, has consumed land four times the size of Paris and forced nearly 220,000 people to evacuate.
Live updates
Loading updates…
Key facts
- A wildfire is burning in the Gironde region near Bordeaux in south-west France, according to the Guardian.
- The blaze has consumed an area of land four times the size of Paris.
- Nearly 220,000 people have been evacuated.
- Windy conditions on Saturday night hampered efforts to contain the fire.
Authorities in France are battling to contain a huge wildfire near Bordeaux in the south-west of the country, according to the Guardian. The blaze, burning in the Gironde region, has already consumed an area of land four times the size of Paris.
Efforts to extinguish the fire have been impeded by windy conditions, the Guardian reported. Winds on Saturday night hampered the work of firefighters attempting to bring the blaze under control.
Nearly 220,000 people have been evacuated from the affected area, the Guardian said.
The Guardian was running live updates on wildfires affecting Europe more widely. Further details on the fire’s cause and the progress of containment efforts were not available in the source.
Why it matters
Wildfires of this scale threaten lives, homes and livelihoods, and the reported evacuation of nearly 220,000 people underscores the scale of the emergency response in the region.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the wildfire burning?
The wildfire is burning in the Gironde region near Bordeaux in south-west France, according to the Guardian.
How many people have been evacuated?
Nearly 220,000 people have been evacuated from the affected area, the Guardian reported.
Why is the fire hard to contain?
Efforts to extinguish the blaze were hampered by windy conditions on Saturday night, according to the Guardian.
Timeline
- Firefighters in France battle to prevent huge blaze from approaching Bordeaux
The Guardian World: Efforts to contain wildfire that has consumed an area of four times the size of Paris impeded by windy conditions Europe wildfires live – latest updates Authorities are battling to contain a huge wildfire near Bordeaux in south-west France that has consumed an area of land four t