Wildfires in south-west France flare up as region braces for new 40C heatwave
Firefighters battle renewed blazes in the Gironde region as south-west France prepares for a severe 40C heatwave.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- 2,000 firefighters deployed to contain intense wildfires in the Gironde region
- Authorities order fresh evacuations at coastal campsites near Lacanau
- Region prepares for summer's fourth heatwave pushing temperatures to 40C
Firefighters in France are working around the clock to contain wildfires raging across the Gironde region while bracing for another sharp surge in temperatures.
Commander Rémi Lassoureille, leading the firefighting response in Gironde, stated that four of his colleagues had died in recent weeks across France, with 2,000 personnel deployed in the region to contain flames that have ravaged the countryside between the coastline and Bordeaux for days.
According to regional prefect Sophie Brocas, 14 locations previously hit by fires saw new flare-ups on Tuesday, and she emphasized that the situation remains critical.
This summer's fourth heatwave is expected to begin by Wednesday, driving temperatures in the affected area up to 40C, with similar conditions anticipated in Spain.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Although the city of Bordeaux, home to 260,000 residents, is not currently under direct threat, officials noted that a wildfire on Monday burned as close as 15km from the city's periphery. Air quality in the city has deteriorated significantly, with residents and tourists wearing masks and smoke odors lingering on clothing for days.
Intensifying European heatwaves highlight the growing vulnerability of southern and western regions to extreme climate events. Temperatures reaching 40C combined with prolonged dry spells create hazardous conditions that drastically accelerate the spread of wildfires, posing immense challenges to emergency responders and threatening local ecosystems and tourism.
"We are frightened about the impact on Bordeaux and the metropolitan area."
Rémi Lassoureille
On Tuesday morning, the Gironde prefect ordered a fresh evacuation of all campsites near the coast at Lacanau, while tourists in a nearby town were told to stay put but prepare for a sudden exit. The roughly 4,000 tourists told to leave add to the 220,000 people evacuated across France in recent days, with an estimated 240 homes destroyed so far.
Source: BBC World
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