Lead
French authorities have ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast, as an "intense and highly unpredictable" wildfire advances on one of the country's most popular holiday destinations. The fire, which has burned more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) by Friday morning, has prompted the evacuation of 40,000 people, according to the French interior minister, Laurent Nuñez. Boats began ferrying holidaymakers and residents off four piers on the peninsula early on Thursday after the Gironde prefecture ordered a progressive evacuation, "village by village," by sea or by the only road linking the area with the mainland.
Coverage Comparison
The Guardian's reporting on the unfolding crisis has evolved over two days, reflecting the escalating severity of the situation. Initial reports described a "particularly intense" wildfire that had burned 2,400 hectares in less than 24 hours, forcing the evacuation of over 20,000 people. At that stage, authorities reported no casualties and no homes destroyed, and 700 firefighters and four water-bombing planes were battling the blaze. The Gironde prefecture said the situation "remains unfavourable."
By the following day, the scale of the disaster had grown dramatically. The fire had expanded to over 10,000 hectares, and the number of people evacuated or about to be evacuated had risen to 40,000. The interior minister reported that 80 houses had burned. A second fire, raging near the popular resort of Biscarrosse, had burned through more than 2,500 hectares and led to the evacuation of about 23,000 people.
Key Claims
- More than 20,000 people were evacuated in the initial phase of the fire, according to The Guardian.
- The fire burned 2,400 hectares in less than 24 hours initially, then expanded to over 10,000 hectares by Friday morning, as reported by The Guardian.
- No casualties or homes were destroyed in the initial fire, but later reports confirmed 80 houses burned, per The Guardian.
- 700 firefighters and four water-bombing planes were initially battling the fire; later reports noted about 800 firefighters and four water-bombing planes were involved, as stated by The Guardian.
- The Gironde prefecture said the situation remains unfavourable, according to The Guardian.
- France has endured three heatwaves since May, with climate breakdown leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, as reported by The Guardian.
- A wildfire in 2022 burned more than 30,000 hectares in the same area, according to The Guardian.
- The total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula was ordered, with 40,000 people evacuated or to be evacuated, as reported by The Guardian.
- Eighty houses were burned in the fire, per The Guardian.
- A second fire near Biscarrosse has burned over 2,500 hectares and led to the evacuation of about 23,000 people, as stated by The Guardian.
- President Macron activated the EU's civil protection mechanism, according to The Guardian.
Perspectives
French authorities
The Gironde prefecture described the situation as "unfavourable," while the interior minister warned of the fire's intensity and unpredictability. The Landes prefect, Gilles Clavreul, said of the Biscarrosse blaze: "The fire front looks very bad. There are a great many new fire starts ahead of the main blaze. The situation is highly dynamic and unfavourable." Authorities ordered the total evacuation of Cap Ferret and have closed numerous roads, including those leading to the peninsula, to all but essential traffic.
Evacuees
Residents and holidaymakers have described the suddenness of the evacuation. Patrick Martineau, 69, evacuated from the village of Le Porge, told Agence France-Presse that police had "come banging on the doors... It's scary – hard to take in. When we bought a home here, we never thought there'd be a fire risk." Sylvie, a holidaymaker from Paris staying in Lège-Cap-Ferret, said a neighbour had told her: "Get your bags ready, we're going to be evacuated during the night. We put the bulk of our stuff in the car boot and left."