Wildfires Continue to Rage in Western Europe; Over 190,000 Evacuate in France Alone

As of the 25th (local time), more than 260,000 residents have been evacuated due to the worst wildfires to hit France and Spain.

Fire authorities are mobilizing all available personnel and resources to contain the blazes, but adverse weather conditions are hindering field response efforts.

According to the French daily Le Figaro, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated during a midday briefing that the wildfires, which broke out in the southwest on the 22nd, continue to spread, burning more than 40,000 hectares in the Gironde department alone.

The minister added that including these figures, approximately 98,000 hectares have been burned in France since January of this year, marking a record-high scale.

While there are no casualties reported yet, Minister Nuñez announced that 167,000 people have been evacuated in Gironde alone so far.

He also stated that 30,000 people have been evacuated due to wildfires in the Landes department, which borders Gironde.

A total of 197,000 people have been evacuated in France alone due to these wildfires, and additional evacuation orders are highly likely depending on the spread of the flames.

Sophie Brocas, the prefect of the Gironde region, stated in an afternoon briefing that while the intensity of the wildfires has weakened somewhat thanks to dropping temperatures and rising humidity, winds began blowing from west to east after noon, threatening the Bordeaux area, and adding that "the situation is extremely serious."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.