France and Spain Battle Wildfires Amid Rising Temperatures

Kathmandu. With rising temperatures, the risk of wildfires has become high in southwestern Europe, and about four thousand people were safely evacuated on Tuesday in the Atlantic coastal region of France.

Officials said that although firefighters have achieved some success in controlling the massive wildfire spreading west of Bordeaux, rising temperatures and decreasing humidity pose a risk of the fire spreading again.

About 330,000 people have been safely evacuated so far due to wildfires in France and Spain. As Spain faces its fourth heatwave of the year, many wildfires there are still not under control.

In France, firefighters have managed to contain the fire spreading in the Gironde region to some extent after efforts throughout the night. Although the fire near the sand dunes in the coastal area has been brought under control, the wildfire has so far covered an area of about 420 square kilometers.

Officials said that the condition of the wildfire in Gironde is stable but not fully under control. A warning has been issued that the fire may spread again if the temperature rises and humidity decreases.

According to the Gironde regional authorities, people have been safely evacuated from campsites, holiday villages, tourist accommodations, and amusement parks near the Lacanau sea coast and Lacanau Lake as a precaution.

Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for the French National Federation of Firefighters, said that efforts to control the wildfire will continue despite the forecast of rising temperatures.

France's national weather service issued a yellow heat warning for Gironde from Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to reach 33 to 35 degrees Celsius, and wind speeds may increase.

According to the French Ministry of Interior, more than 1,160 square kilometers of area across the country have been affected by wildfires this year.

According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Service and the World Meteorological Organization, Europe is the continent where temperatures are rising fastest in the world. Copernicus stated that extreme heat and widespread drought have contributed to the spread and intensification of wildfires in France and Spain.

The wildfire in Gironde has been spreading rapidly since last week. Officials said that the fire has so far affected an area about four times the size of Paris city and about 220,000 people have been safely evacuated.

To prevent the spread of fire, military engineers and forest fire control teams continued to build firebreaks on Tuesday. Officials said that 103 kilometers of firebreaks have been constructed so far. 93 firefighters have been injured during the wildfire control efforts.

A part of the A-63 highway towards Bordeaux has been closed, and train services have been suspended except for the railway line from the southern part of Bordeaux to Toulouse.

Thousands Return Home in Landes

In the neighboring Landes region, thousands of displaced people have been allowed to return home after the wildfire spreading there came under control. More than 30,000 residents and tourists had been displaced due to the wildfire.

French President Emmanuel Macron had said on Monday evening that the fire was under control. Regional authorities also stated that the spread of the fire has stopped and no new fires have started.

On Monday night, about 15,000 people from parts of Sanguinet, Parentis-en-Born, and Biscarrosse were allowed to return home. However, some areas are still inaccessible.

Officials warned that the wildfire in Landes has not been completely extinguished, and the fire may spread again due to remaining hot spots, wind, and dryness. Monitoring and firefighting efforts in that area may continue for several days or weeks.

Spain Faces Further Challenges

In Spain too, hundreds of firefighters, with the help of military emergency teams and water-dropping aircraft, are continuing efforts to control large wildfires spreading in various areas.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that the situation has improved somewhat due to continuous efforts throughout the night. However, he warned that the situation could worsen in the coming days as temperatures are expected to rise again.

According to Spain's national weather service, the country is facing its fourth heatwave of the year. Temperatures are forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Officials said that about 79,000 people have been safely evacuated in Spain, and an additional 30,000 have been urged to stay indoors. The government has declared a national emergency due to the wildfire disaster.

Officials are concerned about the possibility of two large wildfires spreading west of Madrid merging. A large number of people have also been safely evacuated due to another wildfire in the eastern province of Castellón.

The government stated that the wildfire spreading in the mountainous and rural areas of Ávila province, west of Madrid, is the largest in Spain's history. The wildfire has affected more than 500 square kilometers.