In brief
The French government has ordered a full evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula after a wildfire nearing 8,700 hectares threatened the popular tourist hub. Hundreds of residents and vacationers have abandoned the area by boat, with some transported by short‑haul ferries while others marched to safety via the main road. While firefighters battle the blaze, President Emmanuel Macron has requested EU assistance, and aircraft are expected from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Parallel wildfires in Spain’s Madrid region have also prompted a national emergency declaration, underscoring a continent‑wide crisis.
French authorities have ordered the evacuation of the entire Cap‑Ferret peninsula, prompting hundreds of residents and visitors to flee by boat from local piers.
The blaze, which first ignited in Saumos on Tuesday, has scorched roughly 8,700 hectares until midnight, with the fire continuing to spread across the Gironde region.
Evacuees in Cap‑Ferret are directed to the main D106 route toward Bordeaux for ground transport while vessels operate between 07:00 and 10:00 local time from four piers; roughly 20,000 people were cleared on Thursday, many of them holiday camp attendees.
The prefect of Gironde called the “final phase” of the evacuation on Friday morning and assured authorities that monitoring will prevent vandalism of abandoned homes.
Parallel wildfires beyond the border are choking southeastern Madrid, where the Spanish Interior Ministry has declared a national emergency for fires in Villa del Prado, San‑Martín de Valdeiglesias and Burgohondo.
Both countries have mobilised aerial and ground resources, with Europe awaiting additional support from countries such as Croatia and Portugal.
