Clément Bargain, edited by Ophelie Artaud
7:52 p.m., July 18, 2022
32,000 people have been evacuated since the start of the fires in Gironde, and more than 16,000 only today. This evening, several villages are completely deserted. If they should not be touched by the flames, the real danger is to see people intoxicated by the fumes. A scary moment for the inhabitants.
More than 16,000 people were evacuated for this single day of Monday in Gironde, 32,000 since the start. In the Landiras sector, several villages are totally deserted this evening. Europe 1 followed the evacuation operations.
Do not forget anyone in the villages
“Hello sir, it’s the gendarmerie”. Door after door, the gendarmes make sure that the message is well passed: the village must be evacuated. “There shouldn’t be a fire here, the fire is far enough away. It’s especially the toxic fumes that are dangerous. You shouldn’t stay,” said the police.
2,400 inhabitants who must leave the premises as quickly as possible. And to forget no one, the mayor of Landiras supervises the evacuations. “These are neighborhoods, but a neighborhood can only be a house. There are houses here and there and that’s why the mayor is there, not to forget anyone. This is my third term so I know the area well,” explains Jean-Marc Pelletant.
A distressing situation for residents
Residents who have only a few hours to pack their bags, without knowing when they will be able to return home. “It’s always very scary. There is no other solution. We are not going to be poisoned”, recognizes Denise, with a lot of concern in her voice. “We are going to put things in the car. My sister-in-law has already called us and they are waiting for us”, adds Patrick.
For those who have no accommodation solution, a dormitory has been set up in the college of a neighboring town.
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