PARIS – Regional authorities on Monday reported that some 10,000 people have been evacuated from their communities due to a spreading wildfire in southern France.
The prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales region said the evacuations took place in 26 communities in a mountain range west of the city of Perpignan.
By Monday, the fire had burned through 4,600 hectares, fuelled by wind, intense heat and exceptionally low air humidity.
A firefighter and a resident had been seriously injured.
The prefecture called on people in the affected region to keep roads completely clear for firefighters and to refrain from returning to their homes to retrieve belongings.
Arrangements will be made to reduce the working hours of employees who cannot get to work.
The spreading blaze has prompted changes to the third stage of the Tour de France, which passes through the affected region and will now take place without spectators or the advertising caravan.
All emergency services must focus on fighting the fire, the prefecture said. Those who do not comply with the restrictions face a fine.
The national meteorological service Météo France warned of a high fire risk across large parts of the country.
The highest alert level, red, was imposed in seven departments in the south-east, while a high wildfire risk exists in a further 41 departments.
Wildfires have also broken out in other regions of France. (dpa/NAN)
