France orders evacuation of peninsula as hundreds flee wildfires by boat

French authorities have ordered the complete evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula (Lège-Cap Ferret) in southwestern France, prompting hundreds of people to escape the popular tourist destination by boat as emergency crews battle a major wildfire in the Gironde region.

The fire, which broke out on Tuesday in Saumos, spread further overnight, burning through 8,700 hectares (approximately 21,500 acres) of land. Sophie Brocas, the prefect for the region, initiated the "final phase" of the evacuation early Friday morning.

Those departing the peninsula were directed to travel via the main highway leading toward Bordeaux. Alternatively, water transport was coordinated from four local piers, with boats operating between 07:00 and 10:00 local time (06:00 BST and 09:00 BST).

Two firefighters died on Tuesday while fighting the flames near the airport in Bordeaux. However, authorities reported on Friday morning that no additional injuries had occurred. On Thursday night, French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the wildfire situation in the nation as "very tense," pointing specifically to the crisis in the Gironde region. Macron stated that he has requested assistance from the European Union, noting that support aircraft from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia will soon arrive to help French teams.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Spain, the government has declared a national emergency as multiple out-of-control wildfires burn near Madrid. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced the emergency declaration as fires raged in Burgohondo in Ávila, as well as Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias in the Madrid region.

Why It Matters

Southern Europe has faced increasingly severe and frequent wildfire seasons in recent years, fueled by rising temperatures and prolonged droughts. The Gironde region of southwestern France, known for its vast pine forests, is highly susceptible to fast-moving forest fires during dry periods. To manage these escalating disasters, European countries increasingly rely on shared resources coordinated through the European Union's mutual aid mechanisms, which allow member states to quickly deploy aerial firefighting fleets across international borders.