In brief
French authorities have ordered the complete evacuation of Lège‑Cap Ferret, pulling hundreds of residents and tourists away by boat and road as a wildfire threatens the Gironde coast. The fire, which began on Tuesday in Saumos, has already consumed 8,700 hectares. Evacuation operations continue, with boats shuttling people from four piers between 7 am and 10 am local time, while cars are directed along D106 toward Bordeaux. President Emmanuel Macron has called for EU support and hopes aircraft from several countries will arrive soon. Meanwhile, Spain has declared a national emergency over uncontrolled fires near Madrid.
French authorities have ordered the full evacuation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula (Lège‑Cap Ferret) on the south‑west coast, with hundreds of people fleeing the area by boat.
The tourism hotspot is being evacuated while firefighters battle a wildfire that has raged in the Gironde region for days. The blaze began on Tuesday in Saumos and has already engulfed 8,700 hectares (about 21,500 acres).
No further casualties have been reported overnight in southwestern France, although two firefighters died on Tuesday near the Bordeaux airport.
Across the Atlantic coast, the town of Biscarosse in France’s Landes region reported a “major” fire that began Thursday afternoon, prompting the evacuation of more than 23,000 people, including 18,000 in Biscarrosse and 5,000 in Parentis‑en‑Born.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the wildfire situation in the country was “very tense,” particularly in the Gironde region, and has called for help from the European Union. He announced that aircraft from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia would soon be dispatched.
Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas ordered the “final phase” of the peninsula evacuation early on Friday. People were told to leave via the main D106 road toward Bordeaux, while boats were made available for others between 7:00 and 10:00 local time (6:00–9:00 BST) from four piers.
Around 20,000 people within the Gironde region had been evacuated on Thursday, many of whom were visitors to campsites on the peninsula.
Further evacuations also took place from La Porge on Thursday night, which the prefect said had been conducted calmly. Homes in evacuated areas will be monitored to prevent vandalism.
Significant resources remain on the ground tackling the blaze while additional ground and air reinforcements are due in the coming hours. The public has been told not to enter affected areas.
