French authorities order mass evacuations as wildfires threaten Bordeaux infrastructure
Over 250,000 people have been displaced by wildfires in southwest France and neighbouring Spain, with emergency measures including highway closures and military mobilisation deployed as conditions remain critical.
Raging wildfires in southwest France have forced the evacuation of more than 250,000 people, with 55,000 additional displacements recorded in the Gironde region overnight as flames approached the city of Bordeaux. Strong winds accelerated the fire's spread, prompting partial highway closures and evacuation orders for five localities. A separate blaze in the Landes region contributed to the displacement figures, while 70,000 people were also evacuated in neighbouring Spain due to fires west of Madrid.
The Gironde prefect issued evacuation orders for five localities southwest of Bordeaux and ordered the partial closure of a major highway due to gusting winds accelerating the fire's spread. The fire in the Gironde region has been burning out of control since midweek, with authorities confirming that flames advanced to approximately 15km from Bordeaux at its closest point. The city’s mayor stated the fire remains at the gates of the metropolitan area, underscoring the immediate threat to urban infrastructure.
A second fire in the Landes region has contributed to the displacement figures, while 70,000 people were also evacuated in neighbouring Spain due to fires west of Madrid. In Spain, a national emergency has been declared as two major wildfires west of Madrid merged into a single blaze. The parallel emergencies across the region highlight the broader challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and the strain on cross-border emergency response mechanisms.
French President Emmanuel Macron has mobilised the military, and Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu has chaired a government crisis meeting. The emergency response comes as more than 110,000 people had been evacuated from southwestern France prior to the latest overnight surge. The magnitude of the destruction has necessitated a coordinated national effort to protect populated areas, including the city of Bordeaux, with officials describing the situation as one of the largest forest fire crises in recent history.
In France, 42,000 hectares have been burnt, with a single fire north of Arcachon Bay accounting for over 12,500 hectares of loss. The total number of people displaced by wildfires in France and Spain has surpassed 340,000. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the fires remain active, with the potential for further displacements as wind conditions and fire behaviour evolve.
