France orders evacuation of peninsula as hundreds flee wildfires by boat
French authorities have ordered the complete evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula in the Gironde region as intense wildfires continue to spread. Approximately 40,000 people are currently being evacuated by both road and sea, with boats transporting thousands to the port of Arcachon to escape the encroaching flames.
The situation remains critical as 8,700 hectares have already burned in the region. Local government officials have confirmed that at least 80 homes were caught in the fire, with roughly 50 destroyed. While evacuations continue, residents and tourists have been directed to leave via the D106 road or designated boat shuttles, as crews struggle to gain control over the active fires.
President Emmanuel Macron has requested emergency support from the European Union, with aircraft arriving from Portugal, Croatia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic to assist local firefighters. This comes after the loss of two firefighters earlier in the week near Bordeaux, marking a grim toll in the ongoing effort to protect the area.
Similar conditions persist across the border in Spain, where the government declared a national emergency due to out-of-control fires near Madrid. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez noted that thousands of hectares remain at risk, leading to the displacement of over 10,000 residents in Spanish regions including Ávila and the Madrid area. Authorities in both nations emphasize that public safety is the priority as firefighting operations continue throughout the day.