Firefighters race to extinguish blaze in southwestern France
Over 200,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as wildfires continue to burn out of control in France’s Gironde and Landes regions. Around 7,000 people have taken shelter in a large exhibition center in Bordeaux, which is itself covered in smoke that is being carried into the city by changing winds.
Many of the people taking shelter at the center include evacuees from nursing homes and families with children.
Many people currently sleeping in cots with their children and pets woke up in their homes in western Bordeaux early Friday morning to emergency text alerts on their phones telling them to evacuate immediately.
They are unlikely to be able to return home anytime soon.
At a nearby folding table, Kristof explained how he was first awakened by the emergency alarm at 6 a.m. before police climbed over the wall and banged on his door. He explained that he insisted on checking on his neighbors, who are well into their 90s, but it took time.
“I had bags prepared but they had nothing prepared so we had to collect their belongings and medicines because they were diabetic,” he said.
Christophe is impressed by the plan, which authorities describe as France’s largest evacuation since World War II.
“We have never known war. There have been disasters and fires before, but nothing like this,” he said.
