This is an ongoing news story and the situation may change quickly. We have updated our coverage as of 11am BST, 27 July.
More than 250,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their homes in France wildfires as the country battles spreading blazes.
The latest fires, the most significant of which is threatening the city of Bordeaux at the time of writing, come as Europe continues to struggle under repeated heatwaves that have seen temperatures towards 40°C in parts of France and Spain.
Last week, wildfires ripped through France’s Cap Ferrat peninsula, requiring the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents and tourists, many of whom had arrived at the popular holiday resorts as the school holiday season began.
Now, authorities in the city of Bordeaux are prepared to order an evacuation of the city should fires get much closer. At the time of writing, multiple reports state the blaze is just seven miles from the city. French president Emmanuel Macron is holding emergency cabinet meetings and initiating the necessary emergency responses.
Bordeaux Airport’s latest statement explains that operations are still ongoing, although the hotel zone situated around Bordeaux Airport is being evacuated until further notice.
In a statement posted to his X account, Macron said: “In these hours when the flames are severely testing our country, France reveals what it is: a united people, standing shoulder to shoulder.”
“Thank you to our firefighters, our military personnel, the civil security forces, our gendarmes and police officers, as well as to the farmers and entrepreneurs, who through their commitment and courage, relentlessly combat the fires…”
