Published On ۲۶ Jul ۲۰۲۶۲۶ Jul ۲۰۲۶
A raging wildfire in southwest France has forced the evacuation of ۵۵,۰۰۰ more people, taking the total forced out of their homes to ۲۲۰,۰۰۰ in one region alone, as the flames creep ever closer to the city of Bordeaux.
Authorities in the Gironde region, where Bordeaux is located, issued overnight evacuation orders on Sunday for five more localities southwest of the historic city.
Gusting winds fed the flames overnight, accelerating the spread of the fire, which has been burning out of control since midweek, the authorities’ statement said.
The Gironde prefect also ordered the partial closure of a major highway heading southwest from Bordeaux.
The city’s mayor said the fire “is still at the gates of the metropolitan area”, having advanced to about ۱۵km (۹ miles) from Bordeaux at its closest point.
A second fire burning further south in the Landes region has also forced the evacuation of ۳۰,۰۰۰ people this week, taking the total driven out of their homes by the blazes to more than ۲۵۰,۰۰۰.
In neighbouring Spain, authorities have evacuated ۷۰,۰۰۰ people this week because of fires west of Madrid.
