Wildfires in southwest France have forced over 250,000 people to evacuate their homes, with flames dangerously close to the historic wine city of Bordeaux.

The Gironde region, where Bordeaux is located, reported that the fire has burned 42,000 hectares (162 square miles), an area seven times the size of Manhattan, and is now just 15 km from the city.Authorities issued evacuation orders for five additional localities, while neighboring Spain faced similar crises with 116,000 people displaced.The fires, fueled by gusty winds and prolonged heatwaves, have been burning out of control since midweek.Firefighters and soldiers are working around the clock to contain the blaze, with aerial support dropping water and fire retardants.The Gironde prefecture has partially closed major highways to protect residents.A second fire in the Landes region has also displaced 30,000 people, contributing to the regional crisis.The scale of the disaster underscores the urgent need for coordinated emergency responses to protect both lives and critical infrastructure.