Wildfire forces mass evacuation in southern France’s Pyrenees
A wildfire has forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents from dozens of villages in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, near the Spanish border, as a summer heatwave roiled the region.
The blaze, located in Trévillach close to Perpignan, has burned at least 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres). Prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe reported the rapid spread on X, warning that wind gusts could fan the flames even further.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez cautioned that the battle would resume “today,” noting the conditions were deteriorating again. Residents said the fire came within 300 metres of homes and “shocked” them with its speed.
Tour de France organisers have suspended access to the last 40 km of Monday’s third stage, which ends in Les Angles, to allow emergency response vehicles to operate unhindered. Race director Christian Prudhomme urged fans not to approach the finish area.
The EU announced that four aircraft based in Cyprus and Sweden would aid firefighting efforts. The heatwave has already scorched the Spanish natural reserve of Les Gavarres, destroying 2,200 hectares, while wildfire in the Sierra de Espadán national park forced the evacuation of 500 people.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 40 C again this week in southwestern France, with Portugal and Spain already exceeding that mark. BBC Meteorology warned that the threat of fires remains high due to the lack of rain.
The ongoing crisis highlights climate change’s role in intensifying European heatwaves and extreme wildfires, underscoring the urgent need for emergency preparedness and rapid response.
