Mass Evacuations Ordered as Wildfire Spreads Near Perpignan
A wildfire in southern France has forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from over a dozen small towns and villages in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, near the border with Spain. The fire, located in Trévillach near Perpignan, has burned at least 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres), according to local prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe in a post on X.
Interior Minister Warns of Deteriorating Conditions
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez cautioned on French TV station TF1: “This morning conditions are deteriorating again. Today the battle resumes.” Authorities have warned that strong winds could further fan the wildfire. Patrice, a resident from Trévillach, told AFP: “It came within 300 metres (984ft) of the houses. We were shocked by how fast it spread, it was staggering – bordering on panic.”
Tour de France Affected by Wildfire
Tour de France spectators have been urged to stay away from the conclusion of the third stage on Monday to allow access for emergency vehicles. The third stage, 195.9 km (121 miles) long, begins in Granollers, Spain, and concludes in Les Angles in the Pyrénées-Orientales region. Race director Christian Prudhomme said: “An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour. We invite the public not to come to the edge of the race or to the finish site.”
EU Sends Aircraft to Assist Firefighting Efforts
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would send four aircraft based in Cyprus and Sweden to help with emergency efforts. The fires have also affected neighbouring Spain, where more than 2,200 hectares in the natural reserve of Les Gavarres have been destroyed. Catalan authorities said late on Saturday that the blaze was stable and would be completely extinguished during the week.
Heatwave Continues to Grip Europe
South of Catalonia, in the eastern Castellon province, 500 people were evacuated after a wildfire entered the Sierra de Espadan national park. Temperatures could once again reach 40°C in south-west France this week and have already exceeded 40°C in parts of Portugal and Spain.
