The Foreign Office has urgently updated travel advice for people heading to France after parts of the country were devastated by devastating bushfires. The heatwave has left much of Europe like a tenderbox and concerns have been raised about the safety of holidaymakers.
At 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, officials updated the advisory to say that visiting certain areas is prohibited and provided emergency numbers for people to seek consular assistance from embassy staff if trapped.
The update said: “There are currently two forest fires in the Gironde department near the towns of La Teste-de-Buch and Landiras, with the evacuation of some areas and the closure of several roads.”
Read more:Heat wave chaos with metro and train disruptions and several fires in 30°C temperatures in Northeast
Two massive wildfires in the Gironde region have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Water-bombing planes and more than 2,000 firefighters are working around the clock to control that fire and a raging blaze southwest of Bordeaux that investigators are treating as an emergency. Gironde officials said the fire had reached more than 70 square miles of forest and vegetation.
Anyone needing help should follow the instructions of local authorities and call 112 if they need emergency help. Anyone requiring urgent consular assistance should call 01 44 51 31 00. The spokesman added: “There is currently a high risk of forest fires due to high temperatures in other parts of France. place.”
People traveling to the Continent are also being warned that traffic between the UK and France by train, plane, ferry and the Channel Tunnel could sometimes cause delays. Industrial action in France and limited resources for tour operators could cause further disruption.
A spokesperson told travelers: “Check with your travel operator or airline for the latest information before you travel, including their advice on how early you should arrive at the terminal or airport for check-in.” Before you travel, make sure you have a confirmed reservation and are fully prepared for your trip, including the possibility of delays, adequate food and water.
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