At least 8,000 people evacuated after fire approaches towns in southwestern France

French authorities have evacuated at least 8,000 people from the town of Teste-de-Buch, located in southwestern France and heavily affected by a forest fire and which has already burned 4,300 hectares.

As reported by the prefecture of New Aquitaine and Gironde, the evacuation has been accelerated after the flames have also emerged on the other side of a road that separates the forest area from the village of Teste-de-Buch.

The Aquitaine prefecture has been affected for several days now by an intense heat wave that has also sparked a series of forest fires which, fueled by the strong wind, have already devastated more than 14,800 hectares.

In addition, at least 27,700 people have already had to be evacuated since the beginning of the emergency operations, of which 11,500 have been moved from their homes this very Tuesday in view of the health hazard that smoke inhalation may pose.