नेपाली
Bordeaux, France, July 26: More than 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as devastating wildfires continue to rage across southwest France, with the largest blaze advancing toward the renowned wine city of Bordeaux.
Authorities in France’s Gironde region ordered the overnight evacuation of 55,000 more residents, bringing the total number of people displaced in the region to around 220,000. The wildfire, which has been burning out of control since the middle of last week, has been intensified by strong winds and prolonged heatwaves.
According to regional authorities, the fire has already scorched an estimated 42,000 hectares of land, destroying vast stretches of pine forests and dry vegetation. Firefighters, supported by aircraft dropping water and fire retardants, are working around the clock to stop the flames from reaching Bordeaux.
Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave said the wildfire is now “at the gates of the metropolitan area,” with the fire advancing to within approximately 15 kilometers of the city. As a precaution, authorities have partially closed a major highway leading into and out of Bordeaux.
A separate wildfire in the neighboring Landes region has forced another 30,000 people to evacuate, pushing the total number displaced across southwest France to more than 250,000.
Meanwhile, neighboring Spain is also battling severe wildfires. Authorities have carried out fresh evacuations in the Valencia region and areas west of Madrid, where more than 116,000 people have been forced from their homes due to uncontrolled blazes.
Emergency crews, firefighters, and military personnel remain deployed in both countries as efforts continue to contain the fires and protect communities threatened by the rapidly spreading flames.
