Massive fires in southwestern France have reactivated this Tuesday, July 28, as the country prepares for the fourth heat wave of this summer season, with temperatures expected to reach very high levels.
French authorities have ordered the evacuation of around 4,000 more people from tourist areas along the Atlantic coast as extreme weather conditions are making it difficult for firefighters to bring a large fire west of Bordeaux under control.
According to local authorities, the fire has caused the reactivation of 14 new hotspots, raising concerns about the further spread of the flames.
French weather service Meteo-France has announced that 16 departments, including Gironde and Landes, will be on orange alert on Wednesday due to the heat wave. Meanwhile, 14 other departments will also be on orange alert, 63 on yellow alert and only 17 in normal condition.
The Gironde prefecture has announced that several areas previously affected by fires have been engulfed in flames again, particularly in Lege/Grand Crohot, Marcheprime and the Lege-Cap Ferret region.
In addition to the damage to the environment and tourism, the fires have caused major economic consequences. Organizations representing small businesses, the self-employed and the tourism sector have called for urgent intervention from the French government, as well as greater support from insurance companies.
According to the Chamber of Commerce, around 14,500 businesses have been affected by the situation, while the French Ministry of Finance estimates that around 130,000 employees have been unable to go to work due to fires and security measures.
