France orders evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as hundreds flee wildfires
Authorities in France ordered the evacuation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula (Lège-Cap Ferret) in southwestern France, while hundreds of people fled the area by boats.
While fire crews continue to fight the forest fire that has been raging for days in the Gironde region, the tourism hotspot is being evacuated.
The fire, which started in Saumos on Tuesday, continued to advance throughout the night, with 8,700 hectares (about 21,500 acres) of land consumed by flames.
Meanwhile, in Spain, the government declared a national emergency due to out-of-control fires in many regions close to the capital Madrid.
While two firefighters died fighting a blaze near Bordeaux airport on Tuesday, officials said no new injuries were reported Friday morning.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday night that the forest fire situation in the country was “very tense”, referring specifically to the Gironde region.
Macron stated that he asked for help from the European Union, adding that the country will soon be supported by planes from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The region’s governor, Sophie Brocas, ordered the “final phase” of evacuation early Friday morning.
Between 07:00 and 10:00 local time (06:00 BST and 09:00 BST), boats from four piers were made available to others, while people were told to leave the area on the main road towards Bordeaux.
In Spain, firefighters are fighting fires in several areas not far from Madrid. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska declared a national emergency due to the fire in Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias in the Madrid region and Burgohondo in Ávila.
