Key facts
- Over 10,000 people have been evacuated from towns and villages in southern France due to a wildfire.
- The wildfire is located in Trévillach, near the border with Spain, and has burned at least 4,600 hectares.
- Authorities have warned of deteriorating conditions due to strong winds.
- The European Commission is sending four aircraft to assist in firefighting efforts.
- Neighboring Spain is also battling wildfires, with thousands of hectares destroyed.
A significant wildfire in southern France has prompted the evacuation of over 10,000 people from numerous towns and villages in the French Pyrenees region, near the Spanish border. The blaze, located in Trévillach near Perpignan, has already consumed at least 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres).
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez cautioned that conditions were worsening due to strong winds, stating, "Today the battle resumes." Residents described the fire's rapid spread and its alarming proximity to homes. In response to the emergency, the European Commission announced that four aircraft would be dispatched from Cyprus and Sweden to assist.
The wildfire is occurring amidst an early summer heatwave that has affected much of Europe. Temperatures are expected to reach 40C in southwest France this week, following record-breaking heat in June. This persistent heat, coupled with a lack of widespread rain, increases the risk of further wildfires. The fires have also impacted neighboring Spain, where over 2,200 hectares have been destroyed in Catalonia and 500 people evacuated in Castellon province.
Tour de France organizers have requested that spectators and non-essential personnel avoid the final 40km of the third stage's route to ensure access for emergency vehicles. Climate change is identified as a driving factor behind the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves and wildfires in Europe.