French authorities evacuated suburbs near Bordeaux as wildfires in the Gironde region showed no sign of abating, while more than 250,000 people were reported evacuated across France and Spain amid successive heatwaves.
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Key facts
- Thousands were evacuated from suburbs near Bordeaux, including Le Haillan, Eysines and Merignac, according to Reuters.
- More than 250,000 people had been evacuated across France and Spain, the Guardian reported.
- French PM Sébastien Lecornu requested an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft be deployed early to help fight the Gironde fires, according to Le Monde.
- Spanish officials warned that winds could worsen fires on Saturday.
- A blaze in the UK's Cairngorms national park was described as 'very serious' by Scotland's first minister.
French authorities evacuated thousands of people from suburbs near Bordeaux on Saturday as wildfires around the city showed no signs of abating, the Reuters news agency reported. Sophie Brocas, who heads the local administration of La Nouvelle-Aquitaine et de la Gironde, which covers the Bordeaux region, said on X that the areas of Le Haillan, Eysines and Merignac were being cleared out.
By later in the day, more than 250,000 people had been evacuated across France and Spain as both countries raced to control the blazes, according to the Guardian. In Spain, officials warned that winds could worsen fires on Saturday.
The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, requested that the armed forces deploy an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft earlier than originally planned to help tackle the major wildfires in Gironde, according to Le Monde. The French newspaper reported the aircraft’s use was not originally expected until the end of the month due to the technical preparations and tests required beforehand.
The fires raging across forests in France come amid three successive heatwaves in as many months. The Guardian noted that the state of the country’s rivers offered another indication of the impact of extreme heat linked to the climate crisis.
The Loire, France’s longest river, is at a historical low, with the flow of some branches, including through the city of Orléans, reduced to a trickle between sandbanks. Two weeks earlier, 16% of French rivers were reported to have dried up, and a quarter of small streams were stagnant or had disappeared altogether, according to the national low water observatory. There has been little rain since.
Elsewhere in Europe, a blaze in the Cairngorms national park in the UK was described as ‘very serious’ by Scotland’s first minister, the Guardian reported.
Why it matters
Large-scale evacuations and the early deployment of military aircraft underline how extreme heat is straining emergency responses across Europe. The record-low rivers and successive heatwaves point to the growing toll of a warming climate on communities, water supplies and firefighting capacity.
Frequently asked questions
How many people have been evacuated in France and Spain?
The Guardian reported that more than 250,000 people had been evacuated across France and Spain as of Saturday.
Which areas near Bordeaux were evacuated?
According to Reuters, the suburbs of Le Haillan, Eysines and Merignac were being cleared out.
What is France doing to fight the fires?
French PM Sébastien Lecornu requested the armed forces deploy an Airbus A400M military transport aircraft earlier than originally planned to help tackle the wildfires in Gironde, according to Le Monde.
Timeline
- France and Spain race to control wildfires as more than 250,000 evacuated – as it happened
The Guardian World: Meanwhile, in the UK, a blaze in the Cairngorms national park has been described as ‘very serious’ by Scotland’s first minister Tell us: have you been affected by wildfires in Europe? The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has requested the armed forces to deploy an Airbus
- France and Spain race to control wildfires as more than 250,000 evacuated – live
The Guardian World: Meanwhile, in the UK, a blaze in the Cairngorms national park has been described as ‘very serious’ by Scotland’s first minister Tell us: have you been affected by wildfires in Europe? The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has requested the armed forces to deploy an Airbus
- France and Spain race to control wildfires as Bordeaux suburbs evacuated – live
The Guardian World: Meanwhile in the UK, a blaze in Cairngorms national park is described as ‘very serious’ by Scotland’s first minister Tell us: have you been affected by wildfires in Europe? The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has requested the armed forces to deploy an Airbus A400M mili
- France and Spain race to control wildfires a Bordeaux suburbs evacuated – live
The Guardian World: Meanwhile in the UK, a blaze in Cairngorms national park is described as ‘very serious’ by Scotland’s first minister Tell us: have you been affected by wildfires in Europe? The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has requested the armed forces to deploy an Airbus A400M mili
- France and Spain race to control wildfires as suburbs of Bordeaux begin evacuation – live
The Guardian World: Officials in Spain warn winds could worsen fires on Saturday Tell us: have you been affected by wildfires in Europe? French authorities evacuated thousands of people from suburbs near Bordeaux on Saturday as wildfires in areas around the city showed no signs of abating, the R