Wildfires intensified in southwest France on Saturday, consuming approximately 100 square kilometers in the Gironde region, up from 73 square kilometers on Friday. Authorities in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde regions stated in a report that more than 12,200 people had been evacuated from the affected area by Saturday morning, while over a thousand firefighters are working to control the blazes. The statement read: "Due to the weather conditions and the risks of wildfires, authorities have temporarily prohibited access to the forested area for professional and recreational activities."
A series of wildfires have erupted in France over the past few weeks, as well as in other European countries such as Portugal and Spain, amid rising temperatures. The flames have subsided around the town of Teste-de-Buch in Gironde after burning more than 30 square kilometers since the crisis began. In the nearby town of Landiras, where 65 square kilometers have been destroyed and 2,200 people evacuated, the fires continued to spread overnight, driven by winds from the southwest.
