France Evacuates Cap Ferret Peninsula After 8,700-Hectare Gironde Wildfire, 23,000 More Flee Landes Blaze
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 24
France Evacuates Cap Ferret Peninsula After 8,700-Hectare Gironde Wildfire, 23,000 More Flee Landes Blaze
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 24
Summary
Hundreds of people left Cap Ferret by boat after authorities ordered the full evacuation of the peninsula, the latest escalation in a Gironde wildfire that has burned for days.
8,700 hectares have been destroyed since the fire began Tuesday in Saumos, and officials opened boat departures from four piers while directing others out on the D106 road toward Bordeaux.
23,000 more people were evacuated farther south in Landes as a separate major fire near Biscarrosse spread, forcing residents and holidaymakers from homes, campsites, a nursing home and a summer camp.
Two firefighters died Tuesday near Bordeaux airport, though no new casualties were reported overnight; President Emmanuel Macron said EU aircraft from four countries were being sent as France's wildfire situation stayed "very tense."
Spain also declared a national emergency as fires near Madrid and in Ávila remained out of control, underscoring a wider wildfire crisis across the region.
With climate change fueling unstoppable mega-fires across Europe, are coastal tourist havens like Cap Ferret becoming too dangerous for summer habitation?
As 10-meter flames trap thousands on a French peninsula, can the EU emergency fleet arrive in time to avert a historic tragedy?
After losing firefighters to unpredictable blazes, how will overwhelmed European nations adapt their strategies to fight these increasingly apocalyptic firestorms?