Extensive damage has been reported across France as massive wildfires continue to devastate several regions, particularly in the country’s southwest.
Large areas of forest have been destroyed by the flames, while numerous communities and open spaces have been reduced to ashes.
The fires continued to burn on Sunday, with residents and emergency crews working tirelessly to contain the flames, RKS News reports.
The wildfires have scorched nearly one million hectares in the Gironde region, while coastal villages such as Lège-Cap-Ferret have become almost deserted, resembling ghost towns after tourists fled during the peak summer season.
The largest evacuation operation carried out in France since the Second World War has displaced nearly 220,000 people across the region.
The few residents who remain are engaged in a desperate effort to save their homes and land, while firefighters have focused on preventing the flames from advancing toward the city of Bordeaux.
“We’re just trying to protect our homes. We’ve been fighting this since Thursday morning,” one resident told CNN.
As authorities in Bordeaux prepare for the possible spread of the wildfire, additional evacuation orders are expected to be issued if conditions worsen.
