French authorities brace for further evacuations as a massive wildfire moves to within 15 kilometers (9 miles) of Bordeaux.
Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave said local officials are preparing for “all eventualities” and are ready to accommodate large numbers of residents if additional evacuation orders are issued.
President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the fire-ravaged Gironde region, described the disaster as a “completely unprecedented wildfire” and said it is the most severe France has faced since World War II. While officials reported that a separate wildfire in the neighboring Landes region had been brought under control, the battle against the Gironde blaze remains far from over.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned that the fire “has a life of its own,” reflecting the unpredictable behavior of the fast-moving blaze fueled by strong winds, dry vegetation, and extreme temperatures.
According to local authorities, approximately 220,000 people have been evacuated across France due to multiple wildfires. In neighboring Spain, more than 100,000 residents have also been forced to flee as firefighters continue battling uncontrolled fires west of Madrid.
The mayor of Cestas, Jérôme Steffe, described the situation as “the fire of the century,” saying around 17,000 residents were evacuated from his town after the blaze intensified over the weekend. He said more than 42,000 hectares (103,000 acres) have burned in the region and at least 240 homes have been destroyed.
Although firefighters have slowed the fire’s advance, Steffe warned that the danger remains high because of flying embers and the possibility of sudden changes in wind direction.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the country is experiencing an unprecedented wildfire season, with 116,085 hectares (286,852 acres) burned and 13,566 wildfire outbreaks recorded since the beginning of the year.
Authorities said that nine out of ten wildfires are caused by human activity, often through negligence such as discarded cigarette butts, unattended barbecues, or unsafe outdoor work. Officials also noted that some fires are believed to have been deliberately set, with 162 people arrested since July 6 in connection with suspected arson.
Wildfires are also burning in several other French regions, including Var, Landes, and Haute-Corse on the island of Corsica.
Meanwhile, Spain remains under a national wildfire emergency for a fifth consecutive day as massive fires continue to burn west of Madrid. Satellite imagery shows that multiple blazes in the Almorox, Villa del Prado, and San Martín de Valdeiglesias areas merged into a single wildfire, scorching more than 27,000 hectares. Local officials have described the disaster as potentially the worst wildfire event in the region’s history.
Scientists say climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense heatwaves, creating conditions that increase the risk and severity of wildfires across Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent.
