Firefighters across southern Europe are racing to contain devastating wildfires that have forced more than 300,000 people from their homes, as a fourth heatwave of the summer threatens to push temperatures back to 40 degrees Celsius in the worst-affected areas of France and Spain.
In France’s Gironde region, officials reported 14 new flare-ups on Tuesday at sites where the fires had previously been contained. Regional prefect Sophie Brocas warned that the situation remained critical. ‘We are not in the clear,’ she said, as dozens of communities between the Atlantic coast and Bordeaux remain threatened by the advancing flames.
More than 70,000 people have been evacuated in the Gironde alone, with 4,000 additional tourists ordered to leave camping sites near the coastal town of Lacanau on Tuesday morning. Across France, an estimated 220,000 people have been displaced by the fires in recent days.
Eric Brocardi, spokesman of the national firefighters federation, described the battle as ‘David against Goliath.’ Four of his colleagues have died fighting fires across France in recent weeks. Some 2,000 firefighters have been deployed in the Gironde region alone.
The crisis has also dealt a heavy blow to Bordeaux’s tourism and wine industry. Restaurants have been forced to close their doors as ash falls over the city and air quality deteriorates sharply. Peggy Plouhinec, director of Chateau Picque Caillou, said the hospitality sector will be impacted this summer. ‘What is happening is unprecedented,’ she said.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the Madrid region had endured its worst wildfires on record. While some evacuation orders have been lifted and around 44,000 people have been allowed to return home, Sanchez acknowledged that highly challenging hours and days lie ahead. He said light was beginning to appear ‘at the end of the tunnel.’
Portuguese authorities deployed 400 firefighters to tackle a large blaze burning on three active fronts in the eastern Guarda area.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 184 people have been arrested since July 6 in connection with the fires. A 23-year-old man held on suspicion of starting a fire in the Var region now faces up to 15 years in prison.
Health Minister Stephanie Rist urged people in affected areas to stay indoors as smoke pollution worsens. The government is being ‘very vigilant’ on air quality, she said. Air quality in Bordeaux has deteriorated significantly, with residents wearing masks and the smell of smoke clinging to clothing for days.
Experts link the severity of this year’s wildfire season to climate change, with higher temperatures and prolonged drought conditions creating tinderbox conditions across the continent. The European Union has activated its civil protection mechanism to coordinate support for affected member states.
