Thousands evacuated as wildfires rage in southwestern France
July 15, 2022, 7:00 pm

Wildfires

Local media reported on Friday (July 15), nearly 7,300 hectares (over 18,000 acres) of forest and land have been burnt in wildfires raging in southwestern France.

According to French news outlet France24, some 1,000 firefighters are struggling to contain blazes that started on Tuesday in the southwestern Gironde region, which includes Bordeaux and lies on the coast.

Around 2,000 more hectares were destroyed in the past 24 hours, while 11,000 people have so far been evacuated, including holiday-goers from campsites, including some 6,000 on Wednesday and 4,000 more on Thursday (July 14).

Authorities in Gironde said the situation is “still adverse.”

The region is one of France’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its vineyards, chateaux, and charming villages that attract visitors from around the world.

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In the town of Landiras, just south of Bordeaux, 4,200 hectares have been burnt and 480 people evacuated. Three houses and two restaurants in the area were gutted, according to authorities.

Along the Atlantic coast, 3,100 hectares have been consumed by fire in areas near the Dune du Pilat, the tallest sand dune in Europe.

Source: aa

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”