Wildfires spread further in southwest France on Saturday, with nearly 10,000 hectares on fire in the Gironde region, up from 7,300 hectares on Friday.
More than 12,200 people had been evacuated from the area by Saturday morning and more than 1,000 firefighters were trying to bring the fires under control, the regional authorities of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde said in a statement.
"Given the weather conditions and the important risks of fires starting, the authorities have temporarily blocked access to the forested area for professional and leisure activities," the statement said.Wildfires have raged through France over the last few weeks, as well as in other European countries like Portugal and Spain, as temperatures have soared.
The fires around the town of Teste-de-Buch in the Gironde have stabilised, having swept through more than 3,000 hectares since the beginning of the crisis. In the nearby town of Landiras, where 6,500 hectares have been burnt and 2,200 people evacuated, the fires continued to spread overnight, pushed southwest by strong winds.
"We have a fire that will continue to spread as long as it is not stabilised," said Vincent Ferrier, deputy prefect for Langon in Gironde, during a news conference on Saturday.Reporting by Layli Foroudi. Editing by Jane Merriman
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hundreds more evacuated from homes as wildfires spread in FranceHundreds more people were evacuated from their homes as wildfires continued to rage out of control in southwestern France, authorities said on Friday.
Read more »
Joel Embiid officially becomes a French citizen, could play for France in 2024 OlympicsAu revoir, Joel Embiid.
Read more »
All Hell Breaks Loose as France Runs Out of Dijon MustardIt’s the nation’s traditional spread, but dijon mustard is disappearing from shelves, and residents are up in arms over its potential replacements.
Read more »
'Bachelor' Host Jesse Palmer & Emely Fardo Have 2nd Wedding in FranceThe pair first tied the knot in a small ceremony amid the pandemic in 2021.
Read more »
Inside the Opening of Parfums Christian Dior’s “The Art of Color” Exhibition in Arles, FranceAt the opening of Dior's “The Art of Color” exhibition, artists, editors, collectors, and creatives descended on the coastal city, whose stone foundations date back to the Roman Empire.
Read more »