‘Out-of-control’ apocalyptic wildfires drive 250k to desert properties as main emergency assembly held

French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting as out-of-control wildfires force over 250,000 people to abandon their homes. In the Gironde region of southwest France, where flames have ravaged an area four times larger than Paris, officials reported that the situation overnight had remained “globally stable”.

This is a shift from previous days when the enormous fire raging since last week had crept closer to the wine region city of Bordeaux. No fresh evacuations were declared.

But with France on the verge of its busiest August holiday period, Gironde authorities implemented additional measures to deter tourists, prohibiting holiday camps for children and people with disabilities – with evacuation orders yet to be made.