France faces devastating fires and extreme heatwave, temperatures expected to reach 40°C

The southwestern region of Gironde in France continues to be engulfed by massive flames, as officials warn that the fourth heatwave of this summer could further complicate the crisis. Temperatures are forecast to climb up to 40 degrees Celsius.

More than 2,000 firefighters have been mobilized to bring the flames under control, which over the past week have forced over 70,000 residents to abandon their homes.

Regional prefect Sophie Brocas announced that on Tuesday new hotspots appeared in 14 areas that had previously burned. She added that for authorities, the situation still cannot be described as stabilized.

Eric Brocardi, spokesman for the National Federation of Firefighters, compared the firefighting effort to a battle of ‘David against Goliath.’ He said that in recent weeks, four firefighters have died in France and stressed that weather conditions are making it increasingly challenging to overcome the fires.

Although the city of Bordeaux is not under immediate danger, authorities’ concern remains high as one of the fire hotspots has been identified just 15 kilometers from the city’s outskirts.

Operations commander Rémi Lassoureille warned that the Bordeaux metropolitan area is at risk, while air quality has suffered a significant decline due to the dense smoke.

Residents and visitors report that heavy smoke and ash have blanketed the city, forcing many to wear masks and stay indoors. Some bars and cafes have suspended service due to high atmospheric pollution.

The heatwave is not only hitting French territory. In Spain, temperatures up to 40°C are expected, with the Madrid region ranking among the most affected by fires.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledged that the country is still going through difficult moments, but added that the situation is showing signs of progress. Meanwhile, in Portugal, around 400 firefighters are battling a large-scale fire in the eastern area of Guarda.