France will for the first time deploy a heavy A400M military transport aircraft, adapted for dropping fire retardants, to combat a massive forest fire in the Gironde region. Nearly 197,000 people have already been evacuated due to the disaster, including residents of the suburbs of Bordeaux. This is reported by UNN with reference to Associated Press.
Details
According to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, rescuers face a difficult battle against the elements.
We face a long and very difficult battle against this fire
According to him, the greatest concern is the fire in the Gironde department, which has approached approximately 30 kilometers from Bordeaux. Due to a forecasted change in wind direction, the flames could spread even closer to the city.
To contain the fire, firefighters are laying firebreaks, using fire retardant mixtures, and employing other means to prevent further spread. The military has also been involved in the response, and 1.5 million protective masks have been delivered to the population due to heavy smoke.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called the situation unprecedented.
The fire in Gironde has become so powerful that it is now creating its own winds
In addition to Gironde, a large forest fire is also ongoing in the Landes department. In total, about 197,000 people have left their homes due to the two fire outbreaks.
Recall
Spain declared a state of emergency due to forest fires near Madrid.