Recent maps reveal the extensive wildfires continuing to spread in southwestern France, leading to the evacuation of nearly 4,000 more individuals from popular tourist destinations.
Over 260,000 residents have been forced to leave their houses in the Gironde region, where the initial fire outbreak occurred last week near the village of Saumos, situated approximately 25 miles west of Bordeaux.
The most recent evacuation directive encompasses campsites, holiday resorts, tourist accommodations, and recreational areas surrounding the Lacanau resort, as stated by Gironde regional authorities.
The fires have devastated the Cap Ferret peninsula, scorching an area of 42,000 hectares, equivalent to four times the size of Paris, although they were contained overnight.
Authorities reported on Tuesday morning that the primary fire has stabilized, and the burnt area has not expanded, but there is a risk of it reigniting as temperatures rise and humidity decreases.
The national meteorological service, Météo-France, anticipates the commencement of a new heatwave across France starting today, with temperatures expected to soar.
The weather forecast predicts highs of 32C to 35C in most parts of the country, reaching up to 37C in the southwestern region. Cities like Nantes and Paris are forecasted to peak at 33C, Lyon at 34C, and Toulouse at 35C.
Temperatures are projected to rise even further on Wednesday, with intense heat spreading across western France. Some areas in the southwest could experience scorching temperatures of up to 40C, while Paris is expected to reach 38C and Lyon 36C.
A yellow heat warning has been issued for Gironde from midday on Tuesday by the weather service due to the escalating temperatures.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the ongoing fire situation as unprecedented, labeling it as France’s most severe fire crisis since World War II.
According to the interior ministry, over 448 square miles have been consumed by fires across France this year.
Europe has been identified as the fastest-warming continent globally, heating at a rate more than double the global average, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus climate service.
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