France evacuates tourist hotspot as wildfires rage
Thousands flee by boat as fires spread uncontrollably
1Fire alert in southwestern France
The entire Cap Ferret peninsula in France's Gironde region was evacuated due to raging wildfires. Authorities reported hundreds of people were transported away by boats. The fire, which started Tuesday in Saumos, has already consumed over 8,700 hectares of land.
2Spain declares national emergency
Meanwhile, Spain declared a national emergency as uncontrolled fires burned near Madrid. In France, two firefighters died battling blazes near Bordeaux airport. Over 23,000 people were evacuated from Biscarosse in the Landes region as another major fire spread.
3Macron calls for EU assistance
French President Emmanuel Macron described the wildfire situation as 'very tense' and requested help from the European Union. Air support is expected from Croatia, Portugal, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas announced the 'final phase' of peninsula evacuations.
4Evacuations continue by land and sea
Evacuations by boat were scheduled between 7-10 AM local time from four piers, while residents were advised to use the D106 road toward Bordeaux. On Thursday, 20,000 people - mostly campers - were evacuated from Gironde. Nighttime evacuations also occurred from La Porge.
5Security measures intensified
Prefect Brocas stated evacuated homes would be monitored to prevent vandalism. 'Significant resources' remain deployed against the fires, with additional ground and air reinforcements expected soon. Authorities warned the public to avoid affected areas.
6The harsh face of climate crisis
These massive fires in France and Spain highlight the Mediterranean region's vulnerability to climate change. Occurring during peak tourism season, the disasters may cause substantial economic losses. European nations need to strengthen collective firefighting mechanisms against such growing threats.
Original article: BBC News — Fransa'da orman yangınları turistik bölgeyi tahliye ettirdi