French authorities have ordered the precautionary evacuation of towns near the southwestern city of Bordeaux as a wildfire that has been burning in the Gironde region since Wednesday continues to spread. Seven municipalities have been evacuated as a preventive measure.
French President Emmanuel Macron has instructed the military to provide maximum support to Civil Protection services, describing the wildfires sweeping southwestern France as “unprecedented” in scale.
Around 500 additional soldiers will be deployed to assist firefighters battling the blazes, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced following an emergency meeting with senior ministers.
More than 140,000 people have been evacuated, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told French television. Earlier, authorities ordered the evacuation of the tourist peninsula of Cap Ferret, with around 110,000 people leaving the area, including by sea. The peninsula is located approximately 70 kilometres west of Bordeaux.
French authorities also reported that dozens of firefighters have been injured, while in some areas horses have been released from stables in a desperate effort to save them from the advancing flames.
More evacuations in Spain
Around 63,000 people have either been evacuated or instructed to remain indoors in the Madrid region as wildfires continue to spread, Spain’s Interior Ministry announced late Friday.
The massive fires also forced NASA to evacuate its Deep Space Network (DSN) communications complex, temporarily affecting its ability to communicate with space probes.
Carlos Novillo, head of Madrid’s regional emergency services, said the wildfire burning near the Spanish capital is impossible to contain, citing strong winds, prolonged drought and extreme temperatures that have pushed the situation beyond human control.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit the affected area, stating that the government has deployed “all available resources” to confront what he described as a dramatic situation.
Authorities warned that the massive wildfire is close to merging with another blaze in the neighbouring Castilla y León region.
“It is very bad news,” government official Nicanor Sen Vélez told reporters.
Spanish police also announced the arrest of a man suspected of starting a wildfire in Castilla y León by operating agricultural machinery in violation of a fire ban.
A second individual is also under investigation in connection with the same incident.
Also read: Tens of thousands evacuated as wildfires sweep French tourist hotspot
