5 campsites destroyed in south west France as wildfires rage
As wildfires continue to rage in south west France at least five campsites in the area have been destroyed, along with an area of forest the size of Paris. Fires have also broken out in other areas including Brittany.
Two wildfires have been burning in the Gironde département in south west France for a week, and a total of 37,000 people have now been evacuated from the area.
One of the fires has reached the coast at Dune du Pilat, Europe's tallest sand dune, which is also a popular spot for camping. At least five campsites sited close to the dune are "90 percent destroyed" according to the local Préfet Fabienne Buccio.
The destroyed sites are; La Forêt du Pilat, La Dune, Pyla Camping, Le Petit Nice and Yellow Village panorama du Pyla.
Meanwhile in Bordeaux, 60km away from the fire, the city is engulfed in a thick "smog" caused by smoke from the fires, while locals have complained of a strong smell of smoke.
Photos of the city show it covered in a haze, while air quality maps for the whole region show dangerous levels of air pollution.
Bordeaux, 2h du matin. pic.twitter.com/RpC8AaksOv
— Marie (@mariedehayes) July 19, 2022
More than 2,000 firefighters are still battling the flames in Gironde, and a sudden change in the wind direction on Monday afternoon saw three further towns evacuated.
A wildfire also broke out in Brittany on Monday, in the département of Finistère - 160 firefighters are on the scene.
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Two wildfires have been burning in the Gironde département in south west France for a week, and a total of 37,000 people have now been evacuated from the area.
One of the fires has reached the coast at Dune du Pilat, Europe's tallest sand dune, which is also a popular spot for camping. At least five campsites sited close to the dune are "90 percent destroyed" according to the local Préfet Fabienne Buccio.
The destroyed sites are; La Forêt du Pilat, La Dune, Pyla Camping, Le Petit Nice and Yellow Village panorama du Pyla.
Meanwhile in Bordeaux, 60km away from the fire, the city is engulfed in a thick "smog" caused by smoke from the fires, while locals have complained of a strong smell of smoke.
Photos of the city show it covered in a haze, while air quality maps for the whole region show dangerous levels of air pollution.
Bordeaux, 2h du matin. pic.twitter.com/RpC8AaksOv
— Marie (@mariedehayes) July 19, 2022
More than 2,000 firefighters are still battling the flames in Gironde, and a sudden change in the wind direction on Monday afternoon saw three further towns evacuated.
A wildfire also broke out in Brittany on Monday, in the département of Finistère - 160 firefighters are on the scene.
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