Emergency crews in France spent Sunday working to hold back wildfires threatening the city of Bordeaux, as local officials ordered growing numbers of people to leave surrounding neighborhoods.
The blazes are part of a broader wildfire crisis sweeping southwestern France during a powerful summer heatwave that has affected large portions of Europe. Neighboring Spain declared a national emergency, and a separate wildfire near Valencia claimed the life of an elderly man.
Officials overseeing the Bordeaux area released a statement Sunday warning that conditions had worsened overnight. “Over the course of last night, the fire was observed to have made rapid progress,” the statement read.
Bordeaux is internationally recognized for its wine country and serves as a key travel gateway for tourists heading to popular vacation spots along the Atlantic coast.
In total, authorities have evacuated approximately 220,000 people from southwestern France since the fires broke out earlier this week. The flames reached Cap Ferret, a well-known summer destination in the Aquitaine region.
Farmers from the local area also stepped up to assist firefighters on the ground. Pascal Roudier, a 65-year-old farmer, explained why he showed up to help. “We came to lend a hand because if it were our region, we’d want others to do the same. And given the scale of the disaster, we think our efforts are very welcome too,” he said.
According to Reuters Climate Monitor, average high temperatures in the Aquitaine region have reached 32.2 degrees Celsius — about 90 degrees Fahrenheit — so far in July. That figure is 7.3 degrees Celsius higher than the historical average for the month based on data from 1961 to 1990.
