In brief
A rapidly spreading wildfire in Trévillach near Perpignan has consumed 4,600 hectares, prompting the evacuation of over 10,000 residents and threatening homes within 300 metres. Strong winds and early‑summer heat have intensified the blaze, forcing Tour de France spectators to retract from the final stage. European Union aid arrives with four aircraft from Cyprus and Sweden, while neighbouring Spain suffers forest damage and additional evacuations. Climate‑driven heatwaves continue to raise temperatures across Europe, increasing wildfire risk and exacerbating public health impacts.
A wildfire in Trévillach near Perpignan has consumed 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres) of forest, forcing the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. Local officials reported that the fire burned within 300 metres of homes and spread rapidly, prompting an immediate evacuation directive.
"This morning conditions are deteriorating again," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned on French TV, saying that the battle against the blaze would resume today. Winds could fanned the already fierce fire, further escalating the danger.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU would send four aircraft based in Cyprus and Sweden to aid emergency efforts. The fire also affected neighbouring Spain, where more than 2,200 hectares of the Les Gavarres natural reserve were destroyed, and 500 people were evacuated when a wildfire entered the Sierra de Espadan national park.
Tour de France organizers have urged spectators to avoid the final 40 kilometres of the third stage that finishes in Les Angles, allowing emergency vehicles to access the area. A motorcade will now follow teams with fewer vehicles, while organizers have said that an exceptional fire requires exceptional measures.
Temperatures in south‑west France could reach 40 °C this week, matching historic highs already seen in Portugal and Spain. The June heatwave, which saw average temperatures of 42 °C on 24 June, resulted in 2,025 excess deaths in France alone. Climate change is heating Europe twice as fast as the global average, driving more intense heatwaves, water scarcity, and severe wildfires.
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