Photos: Wildfires in France drive 250,000 people from their homes | Galero

Fires raging in southwestern France have forced a further 55,000 people from their homes, bringing the total to 220,000 in the region alone, as flames are closing in on the city of Bordeaux.

Authorities in the Gironde region, where Bordeaux is located, ordered evacuations overnight Sunday in five other areas southwest of the city.

Strong winds fed the flames overnight, accelerating the spread of the fire, which has been burning since midweek, officials said.

The Duke of Gironde also ordered the partial closure of the main road leading south-west from Bordeaux.

The city’s mayor said the fire was “still at the city gates”, about 15km (9 miles) from the nearest Bordeaux.

A second wildfire in the southern part of the Landes region has also forced the evacuation of 30,000 people this week, taking more than 250,000 people out of their homes.

In neighboring Spain, authorities have evacuated 70,000 people this week due to fires west of Madrid.