France holiday hotspot evacuated with more than 3,000 tourists forced to leave
France holiday hotspot evacuated with more than 3,000 tourists forced to leave
French Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management
More than 3,000 tourists have been evacuated from a popular holiday hotspot in France.
The southern region of Pyrenees-Orientales was cleared out after blazing wildfires ripped through 500 hectares of land.
Flames swept through villages in the area and eventually closed in on the seaside resort of Argeles.
Video footage showed wildfires, which broke out yesterday, getting extremely close to campsites.
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An aircraft in the sky as the wildfire rages on
French Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management
Children were heard screaming and families packed up their belongings.
Holidaymakers fled the area as plumes of black smoke filled the French skies.
The wildfire spread across the region amid hot weather, drought and strong winds of up to 180 kilometres per hour.
Some 3,000 tourists were evacuated from campsites and put in temporary accommodation, including in town halls.
French Ecological Minister Christophe Bechu said: “The fight against the flames continues in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
“Already four campsites, nearly 3,000 holidaymakers, have been evacuated and numerous land and air resources have been mobilized.
“Drought and high winds increase the risk of fire spreading.
“With[Interior Minister] Gerald Darmanin and in connection with local elected officials, we call for the greatest vigilance to facilitate the action of firefighters.”
An image of the skies turning orange during the wildfireFrench Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis ManagementA major from one of the impacted areas said she saw dozens of “families with flabbergasted children” walk through the doors.
The mayor of Saint-Andre told France Bleu: “Our town is hard hit, there is a lot of damage.
“The village is burned on both sides, a third has been hit by the fire.”
Officials announced the wildfire has since been contained but remains dangerous.
A separate image of the orange skies
French Directorate General for Civil Security and Crisis Management
Around 450 firefighters continue to battle the blaze near the Catalan city of Perpignan.
Officials are being assisted by surveillance aircraft.
A total of 17 firefighters sustained light injuries and one was admitted to hospital after taking a fall.
Wildfires in France come just weeks after blazes impacted other popular holiday hotspots, including in Greece and Spain.
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