Bordeaux wildfires evacuation reaches about 200,000 people
Wildfires in southwestern France have forced evacuations near Bordeaux, burned nearly 98,000 hectares and shut Bordeaux Airport.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
The Bordeaux wildfires evacuation has forced about 200,000 people from areas around the French city, Al Jazeera reported on July 26, 2026. The fires in southwestern France have also shut Bordeaux Airport, adding a major transport disruption as crews try to stop the flames from spreading.
Al Jazeera reported that the fires have destroyed nearly 98,000 hectares. France has sought international assistance while firefighters work to contain the blazes, according to the report.
What is happening around Bordeaux?
Wildfires are burning in southwestern France around Bordeaux, prompting large-scale evacuations and emergency firefighting operations, Al Jazeera reported. The number of evacuees stands at around 200,000, making the displacement the central immediate impact of the fires.
Bordeaux Airport has been closed because of the emergency, according to Al Jazeera. The report did not give a timetable for reopening the airport or say when evacuated residents might be allowed to return.
How much land has burned?
Nearly 98,000 hectares have been destroyed by the fires, Al Jazeera reported. That figure reflects the scale of the damage already recorded as firefighters continue efforts to bring the blazes under control.
The fires are affecting the broader Bordeaux area in southwestern France, according to the report. Al Jazeera did not provide further details on the specific towns or districts under evacuation orders.
Why has France asked for international help?
France has requested help from abroad as firefighters battle the fires, Al Jazeera reported. International assistance in a wildfire emergency can include personnel, aircraft or equipment, though the report did not specify what France requested or which countries might respond.
The request signals that French authorities are treating the fires as a serious emergency, with local and national resources under pressure. Al Jazeera reported that firefighters were still trying to contain the flames at the time of publication.
What remains unclear?
Al Jazeera did not report a cause for the fires, any casualty figures or an official estimate of property losses beyond the burned land area. The report also did not say how long the evacuation orders or the Bordeaux Airport closure would remain in place.
For now, the confirmed picture is stark: about 200,000 people evacuated, nearly 98,000 hectares destroyed, Bordeaux Airport closed and France seeking outside help as firefighting crews continue their containment effort.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.