Firefighters in south‑west France are battling to contain fast‑moving wildfires as strong winds drive flames towards Bordeaux. Officials admit the situation remains critical, with one saying crews are “far from having the fire under control.”
Across France and Spain, more than 300,000 people have fled blazes that have raged for days, fuelled by high temperatures and shifting winds, reports BBC.
Spain has declared a state of emergency, though a change in weather has eased conditions for firefighters near Madrid.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned of “complex times ahead.” In València, authorities confirmed the death of a man in his 70s, found in his car as crews extinguished a fire in the Salt de l’Aigua ravine in Manises.
In France, evacuations escalated late Saturday, with 55,000 more residents ordered to leave, bringing the total to about 250,000 across Gironde and Landes.
Captain Nicolas Braz told AFP the fire was generating “its own winds – complete with whirlwinds,” describing it as “erratic and unmanageable.” He warned of another “difficult night.”
The French military has been mobilised, with reinforcements clearing brush and cutting fire breaks. President Emmanuel Macron pledged that France would “rebuild” and vowed government support “for as long as is needed.”
Smoke drifted into Bordeaux on Saturday, leaving residents with an acrid smell in the air.
Tourists and locals described the scale of the fires as terrifying. Spencer Randall, who evacuated with his family to a location 100 miles east, said they could “still smell the wildfires from here.”
A British couple holidaying in Bordeaux recalled thinking smoke was from a barbecue before realising flames were advancing. “The ash has covered the pool and turned our feet black,” Caleb said, while his partner Maisie added the smoke “really hits your lungs right away.”
In Saint‑Aubin‑de‑Médoc, evacuees called the situation “stressful” and a “disaster.”
The crisis has even disrupted national events. Organisers shortened Sunday’s final stage of the Tour de France from 133km to 89km so security forces could be redeployed to fire‑hit regions.
Macron is expected to convene an emergency meeting with ministers as around 30 fires continue to burn nationwide — a scale the government has described as unprecedented.
