France orders evacuation of tourist spot as hundreds flee wildfires by boat

French authorities ordered the evacuation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula (Lège-Cap Ferret) on the southwest coast, and hundreds of people fled the area by boat.

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 burn throughout the night, and 8,700 hectares (about 21,500 acres) of land were consumed by the flames.

Meanwhile, in Spain, the government declared a national emergency due to out-of-control fires in many regions close to the capital Madrid.

No other casualties were reported overnight in southwestern France, but two firefighters died Tuesday while fighting a fire near Bordeaux airport.

Another “major” fire on the Atlantic coast, around the town of Biscarosse in France’s Landes region, started Thursday afternoon, prompting the evacuation of more than 23,000 people.

Approximately 18,000 people in Biscarrosse and 5,000 in Parentis-en-Born were forced to leave their homes, campsites, retirement home and summer camp.

An update from the district on Friday morning stated that the Biscarrosse center is currently being evacuated.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday night that the forest fire situation in the country was “very tense”, especially in the Gironde region.

Macron said that he asked for help from the European Union and that this support would soon come in the form of planes from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Gironde governor Sophie Brocas ordered the “final phase” of the peninsula’s evacuation early Friday morning.

Boats from four piers were made available to others between 07:00 and 10:00 local time (06:00 BST and 09:00 BST) while people were told to head towards Bordeaux using the D106 main road.

Approximately 20,000 people were evacuated in the Gironde region Many were visiting campsites on the peninsula on Thursday.

Other evacuations from La Porge took place “calmly” on Thursday night, Ms. Brocas said.

It was stated that houses in the evacuated areas will be monitored to prevent any vandalism.

While “significant resources” remain on site to fight the fire, additional ground and air reinforcements will be deployed in the coming hours.

The public has been told not to travel to affected areas.

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.

An update on Friday morning said both fires were “out of control” but their progress had been “limited” in recent hours.

Aldea del Fresno and several other areas in the area were evacuated.

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