Wildfires spread across southern Europe as heat rises again

PARIS: Firefighters across southern Europe were battling wildfires on Sunday as rising temperatures intensified conditions in a region already hit by a heatwave, forcing evacuations in France and prompting officials to bar spectators from part of the Tour de France route.

Fires have burned more than 19,000 hectares of land across Portugal, Spain, France and Greece. Temperatures were forecast to climb to 40C in some areas, adding to concerns among officials as the summer wildfire season appeared to be starting earlier than usual.

Evacuations near Perpignan

In southwestern France, about 5,000 people were being evacuated from homes near Perpignan while emergency crews tried to contain a blaze that had scorched 1,650 hectares, regional prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe told reporters.

Charlotte Pignol, a 30-year-old resident who was evacuated overnight, described how the fire approached her area. "We started seeing smoke around 10:30 pm, then it kept coming closer and closer. Someone from the town hall knocked on our door around 1:00 am to tell us to leave. There were fire trucks everywhere, and the smell of smoke was overwhelming," she informed.

Authorities warn of long fire season

The fires come soon after a June heatwave described as one of Europe’s worst, during which thousands of excess deaths were recorded. The World Weather Attribution group of scientists said that heatwave would have been virtually impossible without climate change.

French fire service Colonel Eric Belgioino said the current conditions underlined the impact of climate change and warned that the months ahead could prove difficult for firefighting crews.

Appealing to residents near the Pyrenees fire, he said, "The season is going to be long for the soldiers fighting fires. You have to help us."

Tour de France stage to run without spectators

French authorities also announced restrictions for Monday’s third stage of the Tour de France through the Pyrenees. The stage, which takes riders from Spain into France and continues on French territory, will go ahead without the usual roadside crowds.

De la Mothe told reporters that the stage would be restricted to riders and essential race vehicles only.

He said the public had been asked to stay away from the route and finish zone. "In other words, and I regret having to say this, it will be, in France at least, a stage of the Tour de France without spectators," he informed.