Over 12,000 Evacuated as Wildfire Rages in Southern France

Over 12,000 Evacuated as Wildfire Rages in Southern France

Over 12 000 Evacuated as Wildfire – TEMPO.CO, Jakarta — On Tuesday, July 7, authorities in southern France reported the displacement of 12,000 individuals due to escalating wildfires in the Pyrenees-Orientales region. BFMTV provided updates on the situation, highlighting the rapid spread of the blaze in Trevillach, which prompted the mobilization of approximately 800 firefighters.

Firefighters Deployed Amid Uncontained Flames

Local officials confirmed that the fire in Trevillach necessitated emergency evacuations, with the prefect stating that the wildfire remains out of control. Over 4,900 hectares have been scorched, and containment efforts face challenges due to persistent weather conditions, according to Colonel Eric Belgioino, head of the Pyrenees-Orientales Fire and Rescue Service.

“We hope to contain the fire as quickly as possible, but I don’t think we’ll be able to do it today, given that the weather conditions are the same as yesterday,” Belgioino said, as reported by Antara via Anadolu.

Wildfire risk has reached “very high” in three departments and “high” in 61 others. An orange heatwave alert was active for 61 regions on Tuesday, with temperatures projected to climb between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius. In southwestern France, peak heat is expected to exceed 41 degrees Celsius.

The French national meteorological agency warned that the heatwave would persist through the end of the week. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addressed the National Assembly on Monday, noting that nearly 14,500 hectares—about 35,800 acres—have burned this season, surpassing last year’s total by nearly threefold.

Read: Firefighters Battle Wildfires Across Southern Europe Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News.