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France and Spain wildfires force evacuations and raise travel risks

UK guidance says access to affected areas could be restricted and roads may close at short notice, while travel insurance expert Defaqto notes coverage may include cancellation, curtailment, and added accommodation costs if offered.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Travel Insurance

Wildfires in Spain and France have triggered mass evacuations and major travel disruption, with more than 300,000 people forced to leave their homes and many sleeping in temporary shelters, according to BBC Business. In France, a prefect for the Gironde department urged tourists to stay away and advised those already there to consider alternative destinations.

The UK government has not issued a blanket travel warning for all of France or Spain, but it advises travelers to use caution. It says access to affected areas may be restricted, roads could close at short notice, and further evacuations may occur.

BBC Business reports that in France, parts of Gironde and Landes are affected, while the French wildfire alert map assigns the highest level to Gironde and Pyrénées-Orientales and a second-highest level to Aude and Var. As of Monday, the map shows more than 20 fires burning across the country, including on Corsica, and in Spain authorities have declared a national emergency for fires in parts of Madrid and Ávila.

On travel insurance, BBC Business cites Defaqto’s travel insurance expert Anna-Marie Duthie, who says that if the situation changes after a trip is booked, travelers may be covered for cancellation or curtailment. She also said coverage may extend to additional travel and accommodation costs should the trip be disrupted due to a catastrophic event, depending on the insurer’s cover and whether it was purchased.

Sources