Newly released maps illustrate the extensive wildfires that continue to spread in the south-west of France, leading to the evacuation of nearly 4,000 more individuals from popular tourist destinations.
Over 260,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes in the Gironde region, where the initial fire outbreak occurred last week in a pine forest near the village of Saumos, approximately 25 miles west of Bordeaux.
The recent evacuation mandate includes campsites, holiday villages, tourist accommodations, and recreational parks surrounding the Lacanau resort, as confirmed by Gironde regional authorities.
The fires have devastated the Cap Ferret peninsula, scorching an area of 42,000 hectares, equivalent to four times the size of Paris. Fortunately, the situation was contained overnight.
Authorities announced on Tuesday morning that the primary fire has been stabilized, and the burnt area has remained constant. However, there is a risk of it reigniting uncontrollably with rising temperatures and decreasing humidity levels.
The national weather service Météo-France anticipates the onset of a new heatwave in France starting today (Tuesday).
High temperatures are expected across the country, ranging from 32C to 35C, with the south-west reaching up to 37C. Nantes and Paris are projected to hit 33C, Lyon 34C, and Toulouse 35C.
Temperatures are set to rise further on Wednesday, with intense heat spreading through much of western France. Some areas in the south-west could experience scorching highs of 40C, while Paris is forecasted to reach 38C and Lyon 36C.
Gironde has been placed under a yellow heat warning by the weather service from midday on Tuesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on Monday that the ongoing fire situation is unprecedented, labeling it as France’s most severe fire crisis since World War II.
This year, over 448 square miles have been ravaged by fires in France, according to the interior ministry.
Europe is experiencing rapid warming, with the continent heating at more than double the global average, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus climate service.
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