Wildfires in the south-western region of France have ravaged an area of 42,000 hectares and are now approaching Bordeaux, encroaching into the city’s metropolitan area, according to live tracking reports.
While no immediate evacuation plans are in place for the city’s approximately 850,000 residents, over 250,000 individuals have been evacuated in the Gironde department. The fire, which ignited last Wednesday, has consumed an area four times the size of Paris.
Jérôme Steffe, the mayor of Cestas, a suburb adjacent to Bordeaux, described the fire as unprecedented in scale on Monday.
Captain Wilfried Schneider of SDIS 33, the Gironde Fire and Rescue Service, stated on Monday to the AFP news agency that while weather conditions have improved with reduced wind, active fires persist. He highlighted that the most intense fire is located between Marcheprime and Pierroton, on the outskirts of the Bordeaux metropolitan area.
Rachel Hanberry, a British resident living in Biscarrosse-Plage, a coastal town near Bordeaux, compared the ongoing wildfires to a warzone, recounting the influx of evacuees seeking shelter in the area.
Ms. Hanberry expressed the community’s profound losses and the overwhelming stress and trauma experienced by residents in the affected areas.
In Spain, wildfires to the west of Madrid slowed their progression overnight, as confirmed by the regional government of Madrid on Monday.
Although the situation has slightly improved, the fires remain active, prompting authorities to urge residents to exercise extreme caution in the affected areas.
Approximately 15,000 individuals have been evacuated from Valencia in eastern Spain, with over 90,000 people fleeing from regions surrounding Madrid and Ávila.
British tourists are advised to verify travel plans to wildfire-affected regions before departure. Travel agency body ABTA recommended staying informed about any changes in operations and following local news updates, guidance from authorities, and advice provided by accommodation and travel providers.
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