PARIS: Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes across southern Europe on Monday as fast-moving wildfires burned through parts of France, Portugal, Spain and Greece, with officials warning that rising temperatures could fuel further outbreaks in the days ahead.
Hundreds of firefighters battled multiple blazes that have scorched more than 19,000 hectares of land across the region, while authorities imposed fresh restrictions and urged residents to remain vigilant.
Extreme heat melted a tramway track in Leipzig and disrupted public transport after temperatures climbed to 41C (106F) as a deadly heatwave continues to sweep through Europe. pic.twitter.com/tgGiBaVReD
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 30, 2026
The fires come just weeks after one of Europe’s most intense June heatwaves, which scientists said was made significantly more likely by climate change.
France Battles ‘Gigantic’ Blaze
In southwestern France, around 700 firefighters supported by water-bombing aircraft fought a “gigantic” wildfire near the city of Perpignan that forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents.
Authorities said the blaze, driven by strong winds, extreme heat and exceptionally dry conditions, had nearly tripled in size since Sunday, consuming about 4,600 hectares of vegetation.
Intense heatwave fuels wildfires across several European countries, forcing thousands to evacuate. Firefighters continue containment efforts as authorities warn of high fire risk in the coming days. Here’s more 👇 pic.twitter.com/iW23ClKwNE
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) July 5, 2026
One firefighter and one resident were injured.
“The fire came within 300 metres of the houses. We were taken aback by how fast it spread. It was staggering — bordering on panic,” said Patrice, a resident of the village of Trevillach.
Charlotte Pignol, one of the first residents evacuated, said smoke rapidly engulfed the area before local officials ordered people to leave.
Tour de France Stage Closed to Spectators
The wildfire also disrupted the Tour de France, with French authorities banning spectators from Monday’s third stage through the Pyrenees.
Regional prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe said the stage would be limited to cyclists and essential race vehicles while passing through French territory.
“The public is asked not to go near the route or to the finish area,” he said.
Fires Spread Across Southern Europe
In Greece, a forest fire near Thessaloniki spread to two factories over the weekend, prompting evacuations and warnings for residents to remain indoors because of smoke.
Spain continued to battle a wildfire near the Costa Brava coast that has burned more than 2,200 hectares in two days, with firefighters warning that rising temperatures and lingering hotspots could hamper containment efforts.
In Portugal, emergency services said they had brought about 80 percent of a major wildfire in the country’s north under control after it destroyed around 13,000 hectares of forest and scrubland.
Wildfires were also reported on Croatia’s Hvar island and in Albania, where hundreds of hectares of forests, vineyards and scrubland were destroyed.
Heatwave Raises Fresh Concerns
Meteorologists forecast temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius in parts of southern Europe this week, raising concerns that the wildfire season has started earlier than usual.
“Climate change is here, we are living the consequences and it is only the start of July,” French fire service Colonel Eric Belgioino said as he urged the public to avoid actions that could ignite new fires.
Authorities across Portugal, Spain and southern France have issued fresh heat alerts, while forecasters warned the latest heatwave is expected to spread north and could persist until next weekend.
