High temperatures and drought in the wine-growing region of Gironde force partial closure of motorway
More than 6,000 people have been evacuated to save them from wildfires in the Gironde in south-west France after a massive blaze that destroyed more than 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of pine forest in July sparked up again and tore through woodland.
“The fire is rampant and has now spread to the Landes départment,” local authorities in the wine-growing Gironde départment said. The French government doubled the number of firefighters to 1,000 on Wednesday afternoon, supported by planes dropping water.
