French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that the forest fires currently affecting the country have been brought under control.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the situation in the Gironde department has begun to improve following incidents described as the largest fires since 1949, particularly in the pine forests near Bordeaux. These wildfires have resulted in the destruction of approximately 42,000 hectares of forest, damaged over 200 homes, and necessitated the evacuation of more than 200,000 people.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that a total of 119,000 hectares of forest land have been damaged by fires across the country since the beginning of the year. Officials have noted that preventive measures may be implemented should weather conditions deteriorate again.
Meanwhile, the situation remains tense in other parts of Europe. In Greece, strong winds have accelerated the spread of forest fires. In the Porto Germeno region, located northwest of Athens, firefighters, police, and emergency services are struggling to contain the flames. Wind speeds reaching 73 kilometers per hour are complicating firefighting operations.
Residents have been evacuated from the settlements of Agia Paraskevi, Kryo Pigadi, and Agios Nektarios in Greece. Helicopters are also being deployed to prevent the further spread of the fire. In Spain, new fire outbreaks have been reported in the Leon province, though the situation in the Zamora and Castellón regions is reportedly showing partial improvement.
Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of forest fires across Europe to prolonged heatwaves, severe drought, and the broader impacts of global climate change. These environmental factors create highly combustible conditions, making containment efforts increasingly difficult for emergency services across the continent.
