More than 20,000 people, including thousands of tourists, have been evacuated from towns and holiday resorts in south-west France as an intense wildfire advances on the Atlantic coast near Bordeaux.
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Key facts
- More than 20,000 people, including thousands of tourists, evacuated in south-west France, according to the Guardian and Al Jazeera.
- The blaze began in dense pine forest near the village of Saumos, about 40km (25 miles) west of Bordeaux.
- The fire burned 2,400 hectares (5,928 acres) in less than 24 hours, firefighters said.
- About 800 firefighters, plus hundreds of gendarmes and soldiers, were deployed.
- A third firefighter has died in Europe while tackling ongoing wildfires across the continent, the BBC reported.
More than 20,000 people have been evacuated from towns and holiday resorts in south-west France as a wildfire spreads along the Atlantic coast, authorities have said. The evacuees include thousands of tourists staying at campsites and other holiday accommodation, according to the Guardian.
The blaze began in dense pine forest near the village of Saumos, about 40km (25 miles) west of Bordeaux and just north of the bay of Arcachon, a popular tourist destination. Firefighters said the fire had burned 2,400 hectares (5,928 acres) in less than 24 hours and described it as “particularly intense.”
Sky News reported that the wildfire raged near the popular tourist coastal town of Lege Cap-Ferret. Reception centres have been opened to accommodate the thousands of people forced from their homes and holiday sites.
A large emergency response was mobilised to battle the flames. According to Al Jazeera, about 800 firefighters, along with hundreds of gendarmes and soldiers, were deployed west of Bordeaux to tackle the fire.
The evacuations come amid wider wildfires across Europe. The BBC reported that a third firefighter has died on the continent while tackling ongoing blazes, underscoring the scale and danger of the fires facing emergency crews.
Early reports on the number of evacuees varied, with figures ranging from around 12,000 to more than 20,000 as the situation developed through the day.
Why it matters
Wildfires are increasingly threatening populated coastal and tourist areas during peak summer, putting both residents and visitors at risk. The deployment of hundreds of personnel and the death of a firefighter highlight the growing human and emergency-service toll of blazes spreading across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were evacuated in the France wildfire?
Reports on the day ranged from around 12,000 to more than 20,000 people. The Guardian and Al Jazeera reported that more than 20,000 people, including thousands of tourists, were evacuated.
Where did the wildfire start?
The blaze began in dense pine forest near the village of Saumos, about 40km (25 miles) west of Bordeaux and just north of the bay of Arcachon.
How many firefighters were deployed?
According to Al Jazeera, about 800 firefighters, along with hundreds of gendarmes and soldiers, were deployed to battle the flames west of Bordeaux.
Timeline
- More than 360,000 evacuated as wildfires rage in France and Spain
Al Jazeera: French and Spanish authorities are struggling to contain the blazes, which are partly caused by successive heatwaves.
- Photos: Wildfires in France drive 250,000 people from their homes
Al Jazeera: As the flames approached the city of Bordeaux, 55,000 more people had to be evacuated from their homes overnight.
- France battles fire 'whirlwinds' as another 55,000 evacuated
BBC World: More than 340,000 people have now been evacuated from wildfires in France and Spain.
- France and Spain fires force more than 200,000 to flee homes
NPR News: At least one person has died in a fire in Spain, according to officials.
- More than 250,000 people flee wildfires in France and Spain
The Guardian World: Hundreds of firefighters battle blazes as strong winds drive fires towards Bordeaux and smoke prompts health warnings in Madrid Unrestrained wildfires in Spain and France have forced more than 250,000 people to flee, authorities from both countries have said, as they struggle to
- Wildfires in Spain and France force evacuation of 200,000 people
Al Jazeera: France has appealed for international help, while Spain has declared a national emergency.
- Wildfires in Spain and France force evacuation of more than 250,000 people
Al Jazeera: France has appealed for international help, while Spain has declared a national emergency.
- More than 220,000 evacuated in France and Spain due to wildfires
BBC World: French firefighters battle a blaze heading towards Bordeaux while officials in Madrid say they face the "worst fire in the history of the region".
- Firefighters struggle to contain Madrid wildfires, as more than 160,000 evacuated in France and Spain
BBC World: Authorities face the "worst fire in the history of the region", Madrid officials say, as French firefighters battle a blaze heading towards Bordeaux.
- More than 200,000 people flee or lock down as wildfires sweep France and Spain
The Guardian World: ‘Highly unpredictable’ blaze forces evacuation of Cap Ferret on French coast and Spain declares national emergency More than 200,000 people have fled or been ordered to lock down as huge wildfires swept Spain and France on Friday, prompting Madrid to declare a national emergency
- Firefighters struggle to contain Madrid wildfires, as more than 140,000 evacuated in France and Spain
BBC World: Authorities face the "worst fire in the history of the region", Madrid officials say, as French firefighters battle a blaze heading towards Bordeaux.
- More than 100,000 people flee or are locked down as wildfires sweep France and Spain
The Guardian World: ‘Highly unpredictable’ blaze forces evacuation of French holiday spot Cap Ferret and Spain declares national emergency More than 100,000 people have fled or been ordered to lock down as huge wildfires sweep Spain and France, prompting Madrid to declare a national emergency and th
- More than 100,000 people flee or lock down as wildfires sweep France and Spain
The Guardian World: ‘Highly unpredictable’ blaze forces evacuation of Cap Ferret on French coast and Spain declares national emergency More than 100,000 people have fled or been ordered to lock down as huge wildfires sweep Spain and France, prompting Madrid to declare a national emergency and the Fr
- More than 180,000 people flee or lock down as wildfires sweep France and Spain
The Guardian World: ‘Highly unpredictable’ blaze forces evacuation of Cap Ferret on French coast and Spain declares national emergency More than 180,000 people have fled or been ordered to lock down as huge wildfires sweep Spain and France, prompting Madrid to declare a national emergency and the Fr
- France wildfires force evacuation of over 20,000 people from tourist town
Al Jazeera: About 800 firefighters and hundreds of gendarmes and soldiers deployed to battle the flames west of Bordeaux.
- More than 20,000 evacuated after intense wildfire in France
The Guardian World: Reception centres open to thousands of evacuees after blaze begins in pine forest 45km west of Bordeaux Europe live – latest updates More than 20,000 people, including thousands of tourists from campsites and other holiday accommodation, have been evacuated as a “particularly int
- More than 15,000 people evacuated as wildfire spreads in France
Sky News: Around 20,000 people were evacuated from towns and holiday resorts in southwestern France as a wildfire raged near the popular tourist coastal town of Lege Cap-Ferret.
- More than 15,000 people evacuated from homes as wildfire spreads in France
Sky News: Around 20,000 people were evacuated from towns and holiday resorts in southwestern France as a wildfire raged near the popular tourist coastal town of Lege Cap-Ferret.
- Around 12,000 people evacuated in France fires
BBC World: A third firefighter has died in Europe while tackling ongoing wildfires across the continent.
- Thousands evacuated in France fires
BBC World: A third firefighter has died in Europe while tackling ongoing wildfires across the continent.