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Wildfires Force Over 250,000 to Flee in France and Spain
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom /Disasters & Emergencies

Wildfires Force Over 250,000 to Flee in France and Spain

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Over 250,000 people have fled wildfires in France and Spain, with high temperatures and strong winds hindering containment efforts.
  • In France, firefighters are struggling to control blazes near Bordeaux, leading to the evacuation of several towns and the mobilization of the military.
  • Spain has seen some weather improvements aiding firefighters, but a man died in a fire near Valencia, and the Tour de France route was shortened due to resource redeployment.

Wildfires are raging across southwestern France and parts of Spain, forcing more than 250,000 people to evacuate their homes. Firefighters are battling intense blazes, particularly in the Gironde and Landes regions of France, where strong winds are pushing flames towards Bordeaux. An official stated they are "far from having the fire under control."

are far from having the fire under control.

โ€” unnamed officialdescribing the struggle to contain wildfires in southwestern France.

The French military has been mobilized to assist, clearing brush and creating firebreaks. Despite efforts, smoke from a wildfire 25 to 30 miles from Bordeaux has reached the city, with residents reporting an acrid smell. Tourists who fled the area described the scale of the fires as "frightening," with strong winds fanning the flames.

frightening

โ€” Spencer Randalla tourist describing the scale of the blaze near Bordeaux.

In Spain, a state of emergency has been declared in some areas. While a change in weather conditions has aided firefighters near Madrid, a man died in a fire in the Valencia region. The final stage of the Tour de France has been shortened to allow security forces to be redeployed to wildfire-affected areas. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with ministers to address the unprecedented situation, with around 30 fires burning across the country.

It's quite strong winds fanning the flames, just terrifying

โ€” Spencer Randalldescribing the wildfire conditions near Bordeaux.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.