Officials report that more than 1,000 firemen are battling a “giant” wildfire in the southwestern region of France that has devastated about 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of woodland.
The blazing fire near Bordeaux has destroyed several homes and caused 10,000 residents to evacuate.
Firefighter representative Gregory Allione told France’s RTL Radio, “It’s a monster, an ogre.”
The firefighting operation is being hindered by high winds and temperatures.
President Emmanuel Macron declared that Austria, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Romania will “assist” France in the fight against the fire. He tweeted, “European solidarity at work!”
This summer, unprecedented temperatures and droughts throughout the continent sparked a wave of catastrophic wildfires in France and several other European nations.
More than 1,000 deaths in Portugal and Spain have been attributed to heat.
In some locations of the United Kingdom, temperatures are expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) over the next four days, triggering a yellow warning for excessive heat. Authorities warn that the heatwave will certainly impact health, transportation, and working conditions.
The enormous wildfire in the Gironde area of France has been raging for two days near the commune of Landiras, around 30 kilometers (19 miles) southeast of Bordeaux.
Several firefighters from other regions had to be redeployed swiftly to assist with the ongoing operation.
They are supported by specialized planes that have dropped water and fire retardant.
Thursday, despite all attempts, the fire was still out of control, according to local officials.
“We’ve never seen a fire like this before,” French firefighter Jérôme Jean told the news website BFMTV.
According to reports, before the evacuation, some inhabitants were forced to seek refuge on rooftops as flames swiftly approached their homes.
BFMTV reports that all 2,000 residents of Belin-Béliet were forced to evacuate the town on Wednesday.
Allison Fayol and her father, unlike many of their neighbors in nearby Hostens, have decided to remain at home for the time being.
The Reuters news agency cited Ms. Fayol as stating, “There is still a lot of smoke, but it is not currently blowing in our direction.”
Thursday evening is anticipated to reach a high of 39 degrees Celsius.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, have arrived in the devastated area to assess the damage.
Changes in the climate enhance the likelihood that hot, dry weather may feed wildfires.
Since the beginning of the industrial age, the world has already warmed by approximately 1.2°C, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments worldwide implement drastic emission reductions.
