A major wildfire in France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, near the commune of Saumos in the Gironde department, spreads rapidly and prompts large-scale evacuations, according to multiple reports. Media outlets describe a dramatic “fire tornado” or fire whirl, with flames moving through the holiday area. Authorities evacuate thousands of people from the projected path of the fire. Estimates in the reports place the number of evacuees at more than 10,000 people, and several sources specify that many of those affected are tourists.
The wildfire also burns extensive ground. One outlet reports the fire scorches more than 2,000 hectares, though other coverage focuses primarily on evacuation figures and the hazards posed by the blaze. The accounts agree on the overall situation: a fast-moving wildfire impacts a tourist hotspot, includes sightings or reports of a fire tornado/fire whirl, and leads to the evacuation of a large local and visiting population as firefighters respond.
