A massive wildfire raging in southwestern France has pushed perilously close to the city of Bordeaux, forcing a record 217,000 residents across the country to flee their homes by Saturday as flames continue to devour vast swaths of forestland.
The fire continues to rage fiercely, with Bordeaux's surrounding woodland reduced to charred remains. The air is thick with heavy smoke, making breathing difficult and posing constant re-ignition risks.
At the Bordeaux Exhibition Center in the city center, the largest temporary shelter for the evacuees, more than 6,000 people have been relocated to the hall spanning over 10,000 square meters.
As the density is extremely high, and ventilation is far from ideal, most people had to rest or sleep on simple camp beds or directly on the floor.
"I live in Le Haillan, about 10 kilometers from here. Last night the smoke was so thick, and the entire sky turned red. We left in a hurry. I even picked up my neighbor, who is 97 years old. We only brought the bare essentials with us. We've never lived through a war, but now we're living through a forest fire," said a local resident.
"I didn't bring much, just my mother's medication and some books for the children. Honestly, we're worried. It's really concerning. Fires are breaking out everywhere in France right now. Everyone is afraid. The situation is unsettling," said another resident.
Since the start of summer, France has been battling an unprecedented wave of forest fires, with total burned area across the country approaching 100,000 hectares. The largest and most destructive blaze is located in the Gironde, where fire has already consumed 40,000 hectares of land as of Saturday.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Emmanuel Macron has ordered 1,500 military personnel to deploy to the fire zones to support firefighting and rescue efforts.
Thousands take shelter at Bordeaux exhibition center as wildfire rages on
