Around 21,500 acres is alight on the Cap Ferret peninsula in the south-west of France
Firefighters drive around a burning forest near Lege-Cap-Ferret(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Hundreds have fled a holiday hotspot under threat from a horrific wildfire, with two firefighters killed in the blaze. Cap Ferret peninsula (Lège-Cap Ferret) in the south-west of France has seen hundreds leave by boat after the wildfire started on Tuesday in Saumos.
The inferno spread overnight throughout 8,700 hectares (around 21,500 acres). Express reports people have been told to leave through the main road towards Bordeaux or take boats being made available between 7am and 10am local time from four piers.
Over 400 people have been transported by boat from Cap Ferret, which stretches along France’s Atlantic coast to the west of Bordeaux. The region’s prefect, Sophie Brocas, said the “final phase” of the evacuation began early on Friday morning.
Holidaymakers from Lege-Cap-Ferret carry their belongings along the pier during an evacuation operation(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Sadly, two firefighters were killed while fighting the ferocious wildfire near Bordeaux Airport on Tuesday, though officials said there have been no new injuries as of Friday. Emmanuel Macron called the situation “very tense” and asked for help from the European Union.
The President posted on X saying: “The situation remains under very high tension in the face of the fires ravaging the country, particularly in Gironde. My thoughts go out to our firefighters and the rescue forces who are battling relentlessly on the fire front.
“Their courage commands respect. I call on our fellow citizens to exercise the utmost vigilance.
“Every gesture counts to protect our lives, our homes, our forests, our landscapes.”
The French President added that aircraft from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia will soon be mobilised to support the country. Gironde fire service chief Marc Vermeulen warned that rising temperatures and strong winds could exacerbate the situation.
He said Thursday: “The work was relentless all night. It’ll peak at 8pm.
“Then we’ll have to deal with… highly variable winds so we’re currently tackling a fire that is going to be difficult to predict and that’s why we cannot relax our guard.”
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