Wildfire forces 10,000 to flee in southwest France

A fast-spreading wildfire in southwestern France has forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate from dozens of towns and villages near the Spanish border, as strong winds threaten to intensify the blaze.

The fire, burning near Perpignan in the foothills of the Pyrenees, has already scorched around 4,600 hectares, according to local authorities.

Officials warned that worsening weather conditions could further fuel its spread.

The European Union on Monday dispatched four waterbombing aircraft from Cyprus and Sweden to assist French firefighters battling the blaze.

“Europe stands with France,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the situation remains critical. “Conditions are deteriorating again. The battle resumes,” he told TF1.

The wildfire, which has injured five people including a firefighter, comes amid a series of early summer heatwaves across western Europe that have left vast areas dry and highly vulnerable to fires.

The blaze has also affected the route of the Tour de France, with authorities restricting public access to a stage passing through the area to allow emergency services to operate.

Across the border in Spain, the fire has burned about 2,200 hectares, most of it within a protected natural area in Catalonia.

Authorities there say the situation is now stable and expect the fire to be fully contained within days.

Police in Catalonia have arrested a worker suspected of accidentally starting the fire while using equipment near a roadside.

In eastern Spain’s Castellon province, another wildfire forced around 500 people to evacuate from areas near the Sierra de Espadan natural park, known for its cork oak forests.