France and Spain battle unprecedented wildfires as Bordeaux faces threat
Wildfires advancing towards the historic French city of Bordeaux have forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people across France and Spain, as authorities describe the situation as unprecedented.
About 220,000 people have been evacuated in France, according to French authorities cited by multiple outlets. In Spain, more than 75,000 people have been evacuated and a further 30,000 ordered to shelter in place, authorities said, as reported by France 24.
In France, fires have ravaged the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast, a popular tourist destination, and spread through areas surrounding Bordeaux, France 24 and The Guardian reported. Firefighters were trying to prevent the flames from reaching the regional capital. Bordeaux Mayor Thomas Cazenave said the fire was about 15 km (9 miles) from entry points to the main city, according to France 24.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told France 2 TV that the fire was "not under control and which is moving in the direction of the city area." He described the situation as "very unfavourable" and "unprecedented," as reported by France 24. Cazenave said earlier there were no plans to evacuate Bordeaux, whose wider metropolitan area has a population of about 850,000, according to the same outlet.
As the blaze advanced, police went door-to-door overnight in the municipalities of Marcheprime and Cestas, evacuating residents one home at a time, France 24 reported. French authorities released footage showing officers knocking on doors in the dark and urging people to leave.
The Guardian reported that 60 km (37 miles) of the main A63 highway from Bordeaux to the Spanish border has been closed due to the fires, and that fresh evacuations were ordered around Bordeaux and the Spanish capital Madrid. One person was killed in eastern Spain, The Guardian added.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited fire-hit areas in Avila, according to France 24.
Coverage comparison
Reports from BBC, France 24, and The Guardian all cover the large-scale evacuations, with France 24 and The Guardian providing the figures of 220,000 evacuated in France. France 24 is the only outlet among the three to report the Spanish evacuation figure of 75,000 and the 30,000 ordered to shelter in place. The closure of the A63 highway is reported only by The Guardian, while BBC's coverage focuses more on personal stories from evacuees and holidaymakers. France 24 and The Guardian both report that the fires have ravaged the Cap Ferret peninsula and spread through areas surrounding Bordeaux.
Key claims
- About 220,000 people have been evacuated in France due to wildfires. (Multiple outlets)
- More than 75,000 people have been evacuated in Spain, and a further 30,000 ordered to shelter in place. (France 24)
- Fires have ravaged the Cap Ferret peninsula in France. (France 24)
- Fires have spread through areas surrounding Bordeaux in France. (Multiple outlets)
- Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited fire-hit areas in Avila, Spain. (France 24)
- 60 km of the main A63 highway from Bordeaux to the Spanish border has been closed due to the fires. (The Guardian)
- One person was killed in eastern Spain due to the wildfires. (The Guardian)
- Fresh evacuations were ordered around Bordeaux and Madrid. (The Guardian)