Wildfire forces another 55,000 people to evacuate in southwest France

LEGE-CAP FERRET, France (AP) — A raging wildfire in southwest France forced the evacuation of 55,000 people overnight Sunday, taking the total forced out of their homes to 220,000 as the flames have crept ever closer to the wine region city of Bordeaux.

Authorities in the Gironde region, where Bordeaux is located, issued overnight evacuation orders for five more localities including some on the city’s approaches.

Their statement said gusting winds fed the flames overnight, accelerating the spread of the fire that has been burning out of control since midweek.