France Wildfires Force Evacuation of Over 20,000 People

Paris. Over 20,000 local residents and tourists have been evacuated to safe places due to a severe wildfire spreading in the southwestern region of France.

About 800 firefighters, hundreds of gendarmes (paramilitary police), and soldiers have been deployed to control the fire spreading about 50 kilometers west of Bordeaux city.

Firefighting aircraft are continuously dropping water to control the wildfire that started on Wednesday. Local authorities and residents suspect that the wildfire may have started due to fire from a brush-clearing machine. The fire, which started from the village of Saumos, has spread through dense pine forests to the famous tourist area of Lège-Cap-Ferret. This area, known for its sand dunes, cycling routes, and oyster dishes, is considered very popular among French artists and tourists.

According to firefighters, about 3,400 hectares of forest have burned so far, an area about five times the size of Gibraltar. Three houses have been damaged and one caravan has been completely burnt due to the wildfire. So far, there have been no reports of human casualties. The European Union has sent three special water-carrying aircraft to extinguish the fire after France requested assistance.

France has faced three consecutive heatwaves since May due to extreme weather conditions linked to climate change. Officials said that thousands of people have died due to intense heat, rivers are drying up, and the risk of wildfires has increased.

Philippe de Gonneville, mayor of Lège-Cap-Ferret, said, "It is difficult to control the fire due to temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and strong winds blowing from the east and northeast."

Two firefighters died this week while extinguishing another wildfire near Bordeaux airport. The firefighters' union has criticized the government for lack of necessary resources and excessive fatigue of personnel. Earlier this month, about 10 percent of the forest in Fontainebleau, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Paris, was destroyed by wildfire. In 2022, about 30,000 hectares of forest were burned due to wildfires in France, and about 50,000 people had to be evacuated to safe places.

Three consecutive heatwaves this season have intensified the drought across Europe. Water supply has decreased and vegetation has dried up, causing more land to be burned by wildfires annually than the average over the past two decades on this continent, which is warming the fastest in the world. Thousands of people have died across Europe due to the heat.