Pyrenees wildfire sweeps across southern France
A fire near Trévillach, close to Perpignan, has scorched more than 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres) of forest and forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from a dozen villages in the foothills of the French Pyrenees.
Prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe posted the latest figure on social media, noting that the blaze has spread at a frightening rate and has approached within 300 metres of residential areas, sending residents into panic.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned on French television that the situation may worsen with strong winds and that the firefighting operation would resume today.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would send four aircraft, stationed in Cyprus and Sweden, to assist emergency crews as part of a broader cross‑border cooperation effort.
European news agencies have also highlighted that neighbouring Spain has seen more than 2,200 hectares of its Les Gavarres natural reserve destroyed, while Catalan authorities confirmed that the blaze is stable and expected to be fully extinguished within the week.
The flames are close to a critical segment of the Tour de France. Organisers have advised spectators to stay away from the final 40 kilometres of the third stage, from Granollers to Les Angles, to keep emergency routes clear. Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme urged fans not to gather near the finish, emphasising the need for safety.
Temperature readings have already topped 40 C in parts of Portugal and Spain, and the heatwave is expected to persist through the end of the week. Climate experts say that Europe’s rapid warming, twice the global average, is heightening the frequency and intensity of such extreme events.
In the aftermath of the June heatwave, France recorded 2,025 excess deaths. The current crisis underlines the urgent need for robust fire‑risk management, improved early‑warning systems, and coordinated international disaster response.
