More than 200,000 people have fled their homes as massive wildfires swept across southwestern France and central Spain, forcing large-scale evacuations and leaving emergency services struggling to contain the fast-moving blazes.

Authorities said about 141,000 people were evacuated from the Gironde and Landes departments in France, while another 60,000 were forced to leave their homes in central Spain as fires spread rapidly through forests and nearby communities.

Firefighters in both countries were overwhelmed by the intensity of the fires, fuelled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change. Spanish firefighters said the flames spread so quickly and violently that they could not be fought directly. In France, some residents escaped by boat after fire engulfed the tourist area along the Atlantic coast.

Although dozens of firefighters were injured, authorities reported no deaths in either country. Residents fled by car as police went door to door urging people to leave while thick smoke rose above surrounding woodlands.

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the wildfire in southwestern France was moving towards Bordeaux after consuming about 140 square kilometres of land.

“We learned in the middle of the afternoon that, following the wind shift, it had become a large, self-sustaining fire that is extremely difficult to bring under control,” Nunez said. “It is now moving east, toward the Bordeaux metropolitan area. We are going to reorganize our response so we can fight it from the ground and prevent it from advancing toward Bordeaux.”

French President Emmanuel Macron directed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to activate the government’s crisis response unit and ordered the armed forces to provide maximum support to civilian emergency services.

“This fire that we have been living with and fighting against here in Gironde for three days has reached an unprecedented magnitude,” said Sophie Brocas, the Nouvelle Aquitaine Prefect. “To combat it, we will receive extremely significant national reinforcements.”

The wildfire began on Wednesday near the Cap Ferret peninsula, about 60 kilometres from Bordeaux. Local authorities said 53 homes and a campsite were destroyed, while 42 firefighters were injured. Around 1,500 evacuees crossed by sea to the city of Arcachon aboard water taxis and larger boats.

“It’s quite impressive and even frightening,” said Laurent Moretti, a resident of Arès. “An evacuation on this scale has never happened before. All we really hope is that the firefighters can quickly get it under control.” (Arise News)

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