Firefighters in Gironde battled blazes overnight as authorities in France evacuated some suburbs of Bordeaux on Saturday as a massive wildfire shifted toward the city famous for its wines.
The government mobilized soldiers to join the battle against the flames and rushed in 1.5 million face masks to protect against choking smoke.
The prefect of the Gironde region that includes Bordeaux ordered the evacuation for parts of three of the city’s western suburbs, including its airport.
Other towns and villages further west of the city were also ordered to evacuate, adding to the tally of 141,000 people who'd previously already been told to move in the face of two major fires in the southwestern Gironde and Landes regions.
The Gironde blaze broke out Wednesday near the Cap Ferret peninsula on France’s Atlantic coast, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Bordeaux.
“As the fire continues to spread, and despite the significant resources deployed by firefighters, the situation requires the evacuation of residents from the affected areas to ensure their safety,” a statement from the prefecture said.
Dozens of French firefighters have been injured, authorities said.
Massive wildfires in southern Europe this week have displaced more than 250,000 people, including some 70,000 people in central Spain.
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Wildfires Force 300,000 to Flee in Europe
- Live: Thousands forced to flee as deadly wildfires rage in parts of France, Italy and Spain France 24 —
- France orders total evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfire spreads The Guardian —
- Wildfires force thousands of evacuations in France, Spain declares emergency The Globe and Mail —
- Over 80,000 people evacuated from homes after wildfires hit France and Spain Chronicle Live —
- Wildfires in France and Spain Drive Tens of Thousands From Their Homes The New York Times —
Wildfire forces evacuation of 220,000 people in southwest France
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