French authorities have issued a mandatory evacuation order for the entire Cap Ferret peninsula as dangerous wildfires continue to ravage the south-western region. Thousands of individuals are being evacuated from the upscale resort, with some escaping by boat as firefighters work to contain the extensive flames in France’s Gironde area.
The ongoing fire has already consumed approximately 10,000 hectares of land, equivalent to about one and a half times the size of Manhattan. Water-bombing aircraft have been deployed in an effort to manage the infernos.
President Emmanuel Macron announced that France has activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism for assistance, emphasizing the severe nature of the crisis. The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) reported that the total area burned in EU countries this year is the second largest on record.
Simultaneously, Spain declared a national emergency due to wildfires near its capital, Madrid. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that 40,000 people have been evacuated or are in the process of evacuating from the Cap Ferret peninsula.
Holidaymaker David Morton, 53, from Gloucester, recounted receiving an emergency evacuation alert during the night while vacationing with his family in Petit Piquey on the peninsula. They hastily packed their belongings and joined a congested traffic flow, passing significant flames that underscored the magnitude of the fire.
Local authorities confirmed the destruction of 53 residences and a campsite by the fires, yet managed to save 2,000 homes. Evacuations in the town of Arès began early on Friday after the flames rapidly spread overnight, according to fire and rescue chief Marc Vermeulen.
Another major fire near Biscarrosse led to the evacuation of over 23,000 individuals, including residents, campers, and occupants of facilities like nursing homes and summer camps. High temperatures of 37°C combined with strong winds posed challenges in extinguishing the fire around Biscarrosse.
Although no casualties were reported overnight in south-west France, two firefighters tragically lost their lives while battling a blaze near Bordeaux airport on Tuesday. France has experienced over 300 wildfires this year, significantly surpassing the average annual count of 93, as reported by EFFIS.