Homes and vehicles in the town of Le Porge, in the Bordeaux metropolitan area of southwestern France, lay in ruins on Sunday after a massive wildfire tore through 42,000 hectares across the Gironde department, forcing some 220,000 people to flee their homes.
Footage shows residents tackling lingering hotspots with makeshift hoses and buckets of water, surrounded by charred debris and collapsed buildings. Burnt-out vehicles and destroyed homes bear witness to the scale of the devastation.
Approximately 175 homes in Le Porge were reportedly damaged by the wildfire, while the authorities issued evacuation orders covering up to 220,000 people across the Gironde department.
Regional capital Bordeaux remains outside the evacuation zone, although residents in western communities including Cestas and Marcheprime were also forced to leave their homes.
Around 2,500 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze, supported by 18 aircraft, military personnel, police officers, local volunteers and reinforcements from across France and Europe.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said more than 115,000 hectares have burned across France since the start of 2026, making it one of the country’s worst wildfire seasons in decades.
Source: Viory
