Gironde: "We could no longer breathe", the inhabitants of the evacuated municipalities testify

Guillaume Dominguez (special correspondent to Barp), edited by Ophélie Artaud 06:37, August 11, 2022

It is a nightmarish summer for the department of Gironde, again in the grip of flames.

6,200 hectares went up in smoke in 24 hours in the Landiras sector, where 14,000 hectares of vegetation had already been destroyed in July.

And this Thursday morning, the fire is still growing, according to firefighters.

10,000 people were evacuated yesterday, including the inhabitants of the small town of Belin-Béliet.

Some had to sleep in nearby gymnasiums.

"We couldn't breathe"

On the varnished wooden floor of the gymnasium, the green cots and the outdoor wooden tables are lined up.

Here, some of the inhabitants of the small village of Belin-Béliet have found refuge for the night.

Earlier in the afternoon, Clément and Françoise, a couple in their seventies, had to leave their house in a hurry.

"They came to warn everyone that we had to evacuate because the fire was at our house, it was behind, we were about a kilometer from the fire. As the smells are very dense, we could no longer breathe , so we were evacuated,” they explain.

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After a short cold meal brought by the inhabitants of the village, the couple will be looked after by a family who have agreed to host them for the night.

Others were less fortunate.

At 82, Claudie needs care.

It is at the gymnasium that she will spend the night with the firefighters.

"I can't even put myself on a low bed because I can't get up. I was well received and there I have a medical bed", underlines the octogenarian.

That night, 20 people slept in the gymnasium.

And to deal with possible new evacuations, around forty new beds will be installed during the day.