Key facts
- A wildfire in France's Gironde region has consumed 42,000 hectares.
- Over 220,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes.
- At least 240 homes were destroyed.
- The fire reached within 15km of Bordeaux's outer suburban area.
- Residents described skies darkened by smoke and a strong burning smell.
- The fire is still active despite efforts to contain it.
A massive wildfire in France's Gironde region has forced the evacuation of over 220,000 people, with residents describing scenes akin to a disaster movie. The blaze has scorched 42,000 hectares, an area four times the size of Paris, and destroyed at least 240 homes.
Residents like Krishma and Nassir, who fled their suburban home in Mérignac, described skies darkened by smoke and an acrid burning smell that made breathing difficult. They, along with tens of thousands of others, were ordered to leave their homes, some at midnight, with only essential belongings.
Many evacuees are now sheltering in temporary centers, such as Bordeaux's exhibition center, unsure when they will be allowed to return. Despite the fire's growth reportedly stopping, authorities warn it remains "extremely intense and unpredictable," especially with a new heatwave expected.
Personal accounts from evacuees highlight the emotional toll, with some drawing parallels to wartime experiences and expressing deep sadness over the destruction of the Gironde forest. Yves, from Le Haillan, and Loïc, from Saint-Jean-d’Illac, shared their experiences of sudden evacuation due to smoke and the unsettling sight of ash-covered landscapes.
Florence, also evacuated from Le Haillan, described the smell of smoke seeping into her apartment and the orange and grey sky, likening the sudden evacuation to being in a war zone and a disaster movie.