France wildfires: 'It's hard' for Bordeaux evacuees waiting to go home

Mona, a 51-year-old HR professional, sits on a field bed in a Bordeaux exhibition hall, her temporary home for five days. She is among hundreds evacuated from their homes by a massive wildfire raging west of Bordeaux, which has already scorched over 42,000 hectares.

"It's hard," Mona shared, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "Every day we hope to go home, and every day the fire prevents us." The makeshift shelter is stressful, and Mona is now alone after her ex-husband and son moved to a room offered by a woman they met. She regrets not packing more essentials, like sufficient clothing or even photos of her children.

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It's hard, because every day we hope to go home and every day the fire prevents us.

More than 220,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, including residents from nursing homes, as the flames approached within 15 kilometers of Bordeaux. While some have found shelter with family or in hotels, thousands like Mona ended up in the exhibition hall, relying on donations for basic necessities. "Nobody anticipated it would take this long," Mona said, reflecting on the suddenness of the evacuation order in the middle of the night.

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Nobody anticipated it would take this long.