Luxury holiday homes erupted in flames on Friday as tens of thousands of tourists fled the 'French Hamptons' peninsula down a single road, with French authorities pleading for help to tackle what they called a 'monster' fire.
The entire Cap Ferret peninsula on France's south-west coast has been evacuated after days of wildfires that have consumed 10,000 hectares (almost 25,000 acres). French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 40,000 people had either been or were in the process of being evacuated from the peninsula, which lies west of Bordeaux.
“Tens of thousands evacuated from French Cap Ferret peninsula as 'XXL fire' destroys 53 homes and threatens more.”
Hundreds escaped by boat across the Bay of Arcachon, while others were told to leave by road. A local councillor reported that 2,000 evacuees had already arrived by boat in the port of Arcachon on the south side of the bay.
Local prefect Sophie Brocas described the blaze as an 'XXL fire'. She said 53 homes had been lost as well as a campsite, but that 2,000 houses had been saved. Fire and rescue chief Marc Vermeulen said the wildfire had spread rapidly at the end of Thursday and into the early hours of Friday. Authorities then decided on Friday morning to begin the evacuation of the town of Arès, south-east of Lège-Cap Ferret.
Further down the Atlantic coast, around the town of Biscarrosse in France's Landes region, another major fire that began on Thursday afternoon has prompted the evacuation of more than 23,000 people. Landes prefect Gilles Clavreul said the fire was not going to be out by the end of Friday, with winds fanning the flames.
Meanwhile, Spain declared a national emergency as wildfires burned out of control in several areas close to the capital Madrid. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez spoke of a 'dramatic situation' and urged people to take great care. Three fires were burning west of Madrid, at Villa del Prado and San Martín de Valdeiglesias.