France Evacuates 70,000 as Wildfire Threatens Airport and Rocket Fuel Plant
📡 NRK (Norway) · 1 min read ·
Part of composite article 220,000 Evacuated as ‘Fire Clouds’ Hit France for First Time, Spain Burns View full article →
Three suburbs west of Bordeaux, France, are being evacuated due to a wildfire that has been spreading for days in the Gironde district. The fire threatens the local airport, which is located in one of the evacuated areas.
Around 70,000 residents have received evacuation orders, according to Le Figaro. One of the suburbs contains an old gunpowder factory that now produces fuel for missiles and rockets. Authorities have classified this site as a high-risk area.
The fire also threatens some of France's most prestigious wine regions. On Friday evening, the government held an emergency meeting and has deployed the military to assist firefighters. In total, 32 wildfires are currently burning across the country.