France evacuates 20,000 as wildfires spread in south-west

About 12,000 people have been evacuated from the south-west of France and authorities are moving 8,800 others as wildfires spread in the Gironde region, the local prefect has said.

Sophie Brocas told reporters 2,400 hectares (5,900 acres) of land had already been destroyed around the Bay of Arcachon.

Many of those who had to leave the area overnight were visitors to local campsites on the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula and the latest evacuations also involved campsites as a precaution.

Wildfires have also broken out in Spain and Italy in recent days. Residents were evacuated near Toledo south of Madrid and a firefighter died after falling ill while tackling a blaze in Sicily.

The Gironde prefect said 10,000 visitors were among those evacuated from campsites overnight and the latest evacuations were going ahead “calmly” in the village of Claouey, on the shore of Arcachon Bay.

Brocas said no injuries had been reported. Some sites and roads were being closed in exposed forest areas.

Two local firefighters died earlier this week fighting another fire close to Bordeaux airport.

In the Var region in south-east France, evacuated residents were told they could go home to assess potential damage to properties on Thursday morning. However, it warned people to limit their movements in the area due to the risk of the fire re-igniting as the wind picks up through the afternoon.

Several French departments have been ravaged by wildfires during a series of unusual and prolonged heatwaves that have swept across Europe this summer.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez paid tribute to the two firefighters who died on Tuesday near Bordeaux airport expressing his “infinite gratitude” and “unwavering support” to their families.-BBC

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