A wildfire has forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people in the southern French region of the Pyrenees, as an intense early‑summer heatwave scorched much of Europe.
Firefighters report that the blaze in Trévillach, near Perpignan, has burned at least 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres). Local prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe posted on X that conditions are deteriorating again, and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that strong winds could fan the fire further.
The wildfire is close enough to push residents from over a dozen villages into evacuation centres; accounts from residents such as Patrice of Trévillach describe the fire coming within 300 metres, rising how fast to create staggering panics.
The incident has even impacted the Tour de France, with organisers urging spectators to stay away from the finish of the third stage to allow emergency vehicles access. Tour director Christian Prudhomme said, “An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour.”
In a bid to help quell the flames, the European Commission announced four aircraft based in Cyprus and Sweden would be dispatched to support emergency efforts.
The fire has also spread into neighboring Spain, where more than 2,200 hectares of the Les Gavarres natural reserve have been destroyed, and 500 people were evacuated from the Sierra de Espadan national park in southern Catalonia. Late Saturday, Catalan authorities said the blaze would be extinguished during the week.
Temperatures could reach 40°C again this week in south‑west France and have already exceeded 40°C in parts of Portugal and Spain. BBC Weather Lead Forecaster Matt Taylor warned that the heat is unlikely to beat June’s record‑breaking spike, but it will still be exceptional for the season and will keep wildfire risks high.
During June’s record heatwave, France recorded its highest average temperature nationwide, and excess deaths of 2,025 were reported in France alone. Europe’s rapidly warming climate is driving more intense heatwaves, putting water supplies under pressure and increasing the frequency of wildfires.
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