A massive forest fire in southwest France's Gironde has raged for nearly a week, forcing some 220,000 residents to evacuate, with many families at shelters voicing growing anxiety and desperation to return home.
At the convention center in northern Bordeaux, the largest evacuation site, four exhibition halls have been opened since the fire broke out on July 22. At its peak, over 6,000 people spent the night there. Many still recall the panic when the evacuation order arrived.
"We were really stressed when we got the evacuation message. It was the first time this had ever happened to us," said Louise Rigaud, a young evacuee.
"It's especially hard for my mother, because she's already ill. The stress has been overwhelming for her," said Dahlia Rigaud.
The Rigaud family initially thought they would only stay for a day or two, but the fire raged on. Nearly a week later, they still had no clear answer on when they could go home.
Facing similar uncertainty, the Montessuy family from the northwestern suburbs of Bordeaux said they were particularly worried about the psychological toll on their children.
"Beyond the physical impact, there's also a psychological one. We're especially concerned about the children for this is something they've never experienced before. Being evacuated, losing so much, not knowing what comes next, we're trying to reassure them as much as we can," said Benedict Montessuy.
On Monday, the Gironde authorities reiterated that no one would be allowed to return until the fire was brought under control. The French government and the Bordeaux metropolitan area have begun arranging temporary housing, with more than 13,000 aid applications already filed. But for those in shelters, a temporary bed is no substitute for home.
"I really want to go home soon. I miss my bed, my bathroom, my cuddly toys, and my family," said young Cyrielle Montessuy.
As of Monday afternoon, the fire remained uncontrolled. For the displaced residents, the hardest part was not a temporary shelter, but the uncertainty, not knowing when they could return, nor what would be left of their homes.
Wildfire displaces 220,000 in southwest France as evacuees yearn to return home
Slovak citizens have spoken highly of China's remarkable development accomplishments and voiced expectations for closer bilateral cooperation as their president is paying a state visit to China.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini is on a state visit to China from Monday to Wednesday.
In a recent vox pop by China Global Television Network (CGTN), local people in Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, shared their impressions of China, outlooks on bilateral relations, and hopes for the presidential visit. Interviewees across different professions praised China's progress, with many highlighting its remarkable advances in infrastructure, technological innovation and economic growth.
Daniele, an IT developer, was particularly drawn to China's rich cultural heritage.
"It has a very nice culture, so that's why in the future I think I will visit this country," he said.
For others, China's forward-looking vision is a major source of inspiration. Veronika, a sales clerk, expressed her fascination with the country's technological strides.
"I have a very positive view of China. I'm fascinated by its technology and enjoy learning about it. I think there's a lot we can learn from China, and I really admire how forward-looking it is," she said.
Robin, another sales clerk, sees valuable lessons for Slovakia in China's economic model.
"It's a big country with a long history, and I think concerning the economy, it's something we can learn about to make our own economy more versatile," he said.
Jan Kubo, an administrative manager, was impressed by the sheer scale of China's development.
"China impressed me with the sheer scale of infrastructure development and economic growth," he said.
Looking ahead to how bilateral ties may evolve after the state visit, most interviewees expressed optimism about mutually beneficial collaboration.
"I think China could really contribute a lot to Slovakia's development. As I mentioned earlier, this is particularly the case with technology – whether it's cars, machinery, heavy equipment, or everyday items like phones, tablets and computers. There's definitely a lot we can learn from China, and I believe that's going to help us move forward," said Veronika.
"It's very important that these countries work together because they can learn from each other," said Robin.
When it comes to overall expectations for the presidential visit, local residents looked forward to tangible outcomes and closer bonds between the two countries.
"I certainly expect the visit to bring tangible benefits to our country. I hope the two sides will reach agreements that benefit the Slovak Republic," said Veronika.
"He is representing our European values, this is very important. But also strengthen the ties between the two countries," said Robin.
Slovaks praise China's development, eye deeper cooperation as president visits China
