Authorities in southwestern France ordered the overnight evacuation of more than 10,000 residents and visitors on Thursday as a fast-moving wildfire tore through approximately 2,000 hectares of land located west of the city of Bordeaux, officials confirmed.
The blaze is burning near the Arcachon Bay area, a popular tourist destination, and a significant number of those forced to leave were vacationers staying at nearby campgrounds.
Five hundred firefighters have been deployed to bring the fire under control. According to the prefecture, the situation remains very difficult, though no injuries have been reported at this time.
The fire is part of a broader crisis gripping the European continent. Data indicates that wildfires have already consumed more land across Europe this year than the average annual total recorded over the past two decades. Europe has experienced three intense and nearly consecutive heatwaves so far this year, making it the fastest-warming continent on Earth.
