BLAZE TRAIL
France wildfires: Campsites full of Brits in path of inferno as 3,000 tourists evacuated amid ‘maximum alert’ warning
CAMPSITES full of Brit holidaymakers are in the path of the ferocious wildfires burning up parts of France, as 3,000 tourists have been evacuated.
The worst blaze was in the southern Pyrenees region close to the seaside resort of Argelès-sur-Mer where a wildfire ripped through 1,235 acres of land.
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By the time it was under control on Tuesday morning it had destroyed 30 houses, a warehouse, and an entire campsite, while also leaving a firefighter in a critical condition in hospital.
Holidaymakers have been warned to stay on “maximum alert” as between 350 and 400 people have been left without accommodation.
Many of those were escaped were still in their swimsuits and shorts as they headed for temporary accommodation in gyms and other public buildings.
Brits have also told how they had to quickly pack their belongings and flee the Saint-Andre area in their cars.
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They said they had become stuck in traffic jams after realising they were actually driving towards the fires.
Retired British hedge fund manager Zak Dhabalia, 55, who lives in the nearby village of Sorede, told the it was an "extraordinary and terrifying experience for us all".
He said: "We were scared because we thought that if the wind changes we'd be packing our bags and making sure we had an available exit route.
"What was scary was that on one of the roads, you had this massive blockage because people were turning their cars around as soon as they realised they were heading towards the fire - and the people who were already trying to get out, couldn't move."
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Zak added: "Over the course of about 15 minutes, I could see the speed and rapidity of the fire spreading across the vineyards and headings towards the campsites which were later destroyed and evacuated.
"I started hearing explosions as well - basically gas canisters going of on some of the properties and mobile homes in the area."
As an investigation was launched into the infernos, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said there could be “worse to come”.
Mr Darmanin added: “I call on the population and holidaymakers to be extremely vigilant.”
He said that 650 firefighters supported by water-dropping aircraft fought the flames throughout the night between Monday and Tuesday.
A spokesman for the local emergency services confirmed that campsites full of British people were in the disaster zone.
“All need to follow official instructions and remain on maximum alert at all times,” he said.
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“Temperatures are rising, and there is no sign that these wildfires will stop.”
Regional official Rodrigue Furcy added: “The fire has been contained, but the area remains under close surveillance.”
Families who had quickly packed their belongings and fled the devastated area were told to be particularly cautious when they returned to their incinerated cars and holiday accommodation.
Laetitia Richard, 39, said she was lucky to escape from the Chênes Rouges (Red Oaks) campsite with her husband and two children.
“We loaded up what we could and left,” she said. “We’re alive, and that's the main thing.”
The blaze spread exceptionally quickly due to temperatures approaching 40C and winds reaching up to 100mph.
Seventeen firefighters were wounded while fighting the flames, and one was admitted to hospital.
Roads were blocked and trains between the French city of Perpignan and the Spanish border were suspended.
The entire Pyrenees-Orientales department, which borders Spain, has been hit by a devastating drought.
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Last week, firefighters battled another wildfire near the southwestern city of Bordeaux that forced around 8,000 people to flee.
France is in the middle of its fourth heat wave of the year, while blazes have also devastated large parts of Greece, Italy, Algeria and Tunisia.
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