Nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated in southern France as firefighters battle fast-spreading wildfires fueled by extreme heat conditions following a recent record-breaking heatwave.
Authorities said the fire broke out in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and spread to Canet-en-Roussillon, prompting urgent evacuations of tourists and residents, including several camping sites in the affected areas.
Officials confirmed that about 3,000 people were moved to safety, with roughly half coming from three campsites. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries during the operation, according to regional authorities.
Around 200 firefighters and four water-bombing aircraft have been deployed to contain the blaze, while additional volunteer support has been mobilised to assist emergency efforts.
A regional official described the situation as highly challenging, noting that weather conditions remain unfavourable for firefighting operations.
France has recently experienced prolonged extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several regions during an 11-day heatwave in June. Authorities say the conditions have significantly increased the risk of wildfires across the country.
The Interior Ministry confirmed that more than 1,200 firefighters have been deployed since Wednesday to combat multiple fire outbreaks in southern regions.
Meteorological agencies have warned of another spell of high temperatures in the coming days, although it is expected to be less severe than the recent heatwave.
Officials continue to monitor the situation as emergency teams work to bring the fires under control.
