Thousands of people have been evacuated in southern France as wildfires, exacerbated by a recent record-breaking heatwave, continue to spread. The blazes, which broke out in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and spread to Canet-en-Roussillon, prompted the relocation of approximately 3,000 residents and tourists, with dozens of mobile homes destroyed at several campsites.
Water-bombing planes and 1,200 firefighters have been deployed to combat the flames, which have been fanned by wind gusts reaching 70 kilometers per hour. The interior minister noted that weather conditions remain unfavorable for containment efforts. Thick, toxic smoke has blanketed areas, including a marina, as the fires continue to spread.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that "climatic events" have contributed to severe and unusually early forest fires, occurring about two to three weeks ahead of the typical season. Since the start of the wildfire season, 7,000 fires have been recorded, destroying 8,700 hectares. The intensity and early onset of these fires demand significant endurance from authorities and firefighters.
The largest wildfire, which began Wednesday in the Aude and Herault departments, has already scorched approximately 900 hectares. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries, according to regional officials. A large network of volunteers is being mobilized to support the hundreds of firefighters and four water-bombing aircraft working to extinguish the blazes.
This situation follows an 11-day heatwave that saw temperatures exceed 40C in many parts of France. The World Meteorological Organization has linked such extreme heatwaves to increased wildfire risk, noting significant impacts on human health, ecosystems, agriculture, and infrastructure. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group described the recent European heatwave as the most severe ever recorded, stating it would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change.
Forecasters predict a new period of high temperatures next week, with temperatures potentially reaching 44C, though not expected to match the intensity of the previous heatwave. All-time temperature records were broken across Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, and June records were surpassed in the UK and Switzerland during the recent heat event. French morgues reportedly reached full capacity during the heatwave, which is estimated to have claimed over 1,300 lives across Europe.