About 12,000 people have been evacuated from the south-west of France and authorities are moving 8,800 others as wildfires spread in the Gironde region. Local officials said some 3,400 hectares (8,400 acres) of land have already been destroyed around the Bay of Arcachon, as about 700 firefighters battle the flames. Many of those who had to leave the area overnight were visitors to campsites on the Lège-Cap-Ferret peninsula. "The work was relentless all night," said Gironde fire service chief Marc Vermeulen, who warned that temperatures were rising and the wind was getting stronger. Two local firefighters died earlier this week fighting another fire close to Bordeaux airport.