Evacuations rise to 110,000 due to wildfire in French Arcachon Bay

The number of people evacuated due to a wildfire in the tourist region of Arcachon Bay in southwestern France has risen to 110,000, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The blaze has consumed 14,000 hectares of land, and authorities are concerned about its unpredictable movement.

Minister Nuñez described the fire as "transforming" and "self-feeding," changing direction and heading east towards the Bordeaux metropolitan area. The airport in Bordeaux remains closed, and further evacuations in the city's outskirts are anticipated. Nuñez has requested additional support, including military resources, to combat the escalating situation.

A crisis meeting has been convened to address the widespread fires across France. In addition to the Arcachon Bay fire, another significant blaze is active in the neighboring Landes department near Biscarrosse, affecting 2,600 hectares and forcing 23,000 evacuations. A fire in the Var department in the southeast is also advancing, fanned by shifting winds that complicate firefighting efforts.

Nationwide, France has surpassed 50,000 hectares burned by wildfires so far this year. This figure is nearly triple the area affected during the same period in 2025, highlighting the severity of the current wildfire season. The unpredictable nature of the fires and the scale of the evacuations underscore the significant challenges faced by emergency services.

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inédita