Firefighters are racing against time to control the raging wildfires near Bordeaux before a new 41C heatwave hits the area.
French President Emmanuel Macron has described the wildfires as the most challenging situation in France since World War Two. More than 260,000 people have been evacuated from the south-western region, where the flames have consumed over 42,000 hectares of land, equivalent to four times the size of Paris, resulting in two firefighter fatalities and 88 injuries.
The mayor of Bordeaux, Thomas Cazenave, is making preparations for potential further evacuations, stating that authorities are ready to accommodate a large number of people in need. In Spain, 63,000 individuals have been evacuated near Madrid, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calling it a severe consequence of the climate emergency.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez of France reported battling between 30 and 40 wildfires daily. The region of Gironde in the south-west has been placed under a yellow alert for high temperatures by the national weather service Météo-France.
French President Macron emphasized the unprecedented nature of the wildfires, praising firefighters for their efforts to contain the inferno but warning that the battle is ongoing with another heatwave expected. The situation is critical, with a volunteer firefighter losing his life during a preventative firefighting mission in southern France.
In Spain, agricultural machinery use has been banned in certain regions due to the wildfire emergency. Authorities have made arrests related to arson incidents in France, emphasizing the severity of the crime and its consequences.
The wildfires have caused extensive damage in both France and Spain, prompting significant evacuation efforts and challenging firefighting operations. The situation remains unpredictable, with authorities closely monitoring weather conditions and deploying resources to combat the blazes.