About four thousand hectares of forests were devastated in the southwestern French department of Gironde by forest fires that are still active, local authorities warned
Since Tuesday, the flames have been devouring trees, fueled by drought, high temperatures and winds in the towns of Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch, where at least six thousand people, including tourists, were evacuated.
According to the Prefecture of Gironde, 2,100 hectares have been destroyed in Landiras and 1,840 hectares in La Teste-de-Buch by fires which have not yet been brought under control, despite the mobilization of hundreds of firefighters and the use of equipment and aerial means.
The day before, the fire department specified that between those mobilized and the reinforcements on the way, it expected to have a thousand personnel deployed on the ground. Visiting the area, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, declared yesterday that nine out of 10 fires have a human origin, for which he warned that the arsonists could face up to 30 years in prison if their responsibility is proven.
The fires in Gironde have not resulted in fatalities or major damage to infrastructure, he said.
In total, forest fires have destroyed more than 15,000 hectares of forest in France this year.
Prensa Latina
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