Get you up to speed: ‘Apocalyptic’ wildfires are now just nine miles from Bordeaux | News World
A massive wildfire in south-west France is raging just nine miles from Bordeaux, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to call an emergency cabinet meeting. More than 220,000 people have been evacuated, and officials warn that the situation is “very unfavourable” as the fire’s unpredictable behaviour poses a significant threat to the city.
Fire crews are currently contending with approximately 42,000 hectares of land that have been destroyed, marking one of France’s largest wildfires since the Second World War. The French Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, has described the fire as moving unpredictably, complicating efforts to manage the crisis effectively.
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency cabinet meeting as the wildfire threatens Bordeaux, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez labelling the situation as “very unfavourable” and warning of unpredictable fire spread. Meanwhile, Éléonore Caroit, the French foreign minister, has urged tourists to maintain their travel plans, stating that many regions remain unaffected and ensuring that local safety advice is followed.
What remains unclear — It is not known how the fire will further impact the evacuation plans for Bordeaux and surrounding areas.
Wildfire nears Bordeaux as emergency measures are implemented in France
A huge wildfire raging across France is now only nine miles from the city of Bordeaux.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called an emergency cabinet meeting as officials warn that the next 24 hours will be critical in the battle to save the city.
The fire is being fuelled by scorching temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.
There were rumours over the weekend that the city would be evacuated, but officials said this was not the case.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the situation as ‘very unfavourable’, warning the fire is moving unpredictably towards Bordeaux.
Fire crews have also claimed that a giant thunderstorm, known as the rare ‘pyrocumulonimbus’, has been generated by the fire itself, producing its own winds and lightning.
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The fire is now around nine miles from Bordeaux (Picture: Shutterstock)
Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for France’s National Firefighters Federation, said crews were facing an almost impossible task.
‘We don’t know how the blaze will spread. The fire front is constantly shifting. We cannot fight it directly,’ he said.
‘It’s a David-versus-Goliath scenario.’
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the situation as ‘very unfavourable’ (Picture: EPA)
The fire is being fuelled by scorching temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds (Picture: EPA)
More than 220,000 people have already been evacuated from south-west France, while around 42,000 hectares of land have been destroyed in one of the country’s largest wildfires since the Second World War.
The crisis is also unfolding across Spain, where thousands more people have fled advancing flames near Valencia, Madrid and Ávila.
More than 330,000 people have now been evacuated across France and Spain as firefighters continue battling the devastating blazes.
The next 24 hours will be critical in the battle to save the city (Picture: Best Image/Backgrid)
A French foreign minister has urged tourists not to cancel their travel plans despite unprecedented wildfires in the country’s south west.
Éléonore Caroit, the French minister for international partnerships,has urged tourists not to cancel their travel plans despite the fire.
Ms Caroit told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday: ‘It’s more than an incident, it really is a tragedy, nearly 50,000 hectares have been burned this year. It’s significantly worse than last year and even 2022, which was the worst year we had had.
‘You have entire areas that are fine, you’re seeing similar phenomena in Spain and other countries. I’m in Paris and nothing is happening, and most other regions are okay, so do please come to France and do not cancel your travel plans.
‘But wherever you are, please do be advised as to what might be happening.’
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said: ‘My thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires in Europe.
‘I am in touch with my French and Spanish counterparts about the situation.
‘British nationals should follow the advice of local authorities in the area, alongside FCDO travel advice.’
One British restaurant owner in Bordeaux said the city is ‘full of smoke and ash’.
Lance Attwood, 58, who owns Sweeney Todd’s in Bordeaux city centre, said: ‘It’s not really conducive to coming out. The town is full of smoke and ash, so there’s a big drop in business, people are just walking around town in masks.
‘Our biggest concern is people’s safety and the safety of the emergency services.’
Meanwhile, Edward Chisholm, a 38-year-old from the UK, told The Telegraph: ‘My girlfriend and I have been renting a house on Grand Piquey, which is on the northern end of Cap Ferret, for our holiday with our four-year-old son.
‘It was quite an apocalyptic scene – the sky was a burnt colour, and there was ash falling continuously.’
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