A devastating “fire tornado” has ravaged a well-known vacation destination, leading to the evacuation of 10,000 individuals from the path of the intense blaze.
The wildfire in the town of Saumos, located in the Gironde department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, has incinerated over 2,000 hectares of land.
Authorities have ordered the evacuation of the popular tourist area of Arcachon Bay as the fire encroached upon residential and commercial properties.
Numerous holidaymakers staying at nearby campsites have been compelled to flee as the wildfire inches closer to the sought-after location.
In a forest near Lège-Cap-Ferret, southwest of Bordeaux, a fire has spread across more than 31 square kilometers (12 square miles), according to local officials.
Despite the extensive impact of the fire, there have been no reports of injuries at present.
Sophie Brocas, the Gironde region’s prefect, disclosed that approximately 700 firefighters, including reinforcements from the Paris region, have been deployed to combat the blaze.
The flames posed a significant threat to the town of Lège, with the fire’s edge coming within 300 meters (980 feet) of homes on the outskirts of the settlement.