Wildfires have been spreading across southern Europe amid a wave of intense heat, prompting large-scale evacuations and disrupting major events. The region has seen a series of blazes in countries including France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, and Albania, as firefighting teams struggle to contain the fires.

In France, more than 10,000 residents were evacuated near the Pyrenees-Orientales department, close to the Spanish border. The fire front in this area stretched approximately 18 kilometers and forced organizers of the Tour de France to ban spectators from part of the route during the third stage of the race held on Monday. Despite initial considerations to cancel the stage, officials decided to proceed without fans for safety reasons. Two people affected by the fire were reported in critical condition.

Firefighters deployed 750 personnel with 200 vehicles and utilized water-bombing helicopters and aircraft to combat the fires in this region, while an additional 300 firefighters worked to contain a separate blaze in the southeastern Drome department. European cooperation was evident as Spain and Italy sent firefighting reinforcements to Portugal, where a large-scale forest fire in Vouzela required over 1,200 firefighters to control.

In Spain’s northeastern Girona region, nearly 50,000 people were either evacuated or advised to remain indoors after a fire was reportedly started accidentally near the roadside by a man using an angle grinder. Greece has also been severely affected, with officials reporting 96 wildfires over a 48-hour period, including a significant fire engulfing a recycling center in Thessaloniki, which emitted toxic smoke, and major forest fires near the capital, Athens.

Additional fires have been reported in Croatia and Albania, further highlighting the widespread nature of this season’s wildfires in Europe.

The recent bouts of extreme heat represent a continuation of earlier heatwaves this year, which have already been linked to thousands of excess deaths, particularly in France, Spain, and Belgium. Officials have warned that high temperatures and fire risks are expected to persist in the coming weeks. French fire officer Eric Bellogino emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that the effects of climate change are evident and that the fire season will be prolonged, urging the public to take precautions to reduce risks.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is preparing for a third heatwave in three months, although forecasts do not predict record-breaking temperatures there. Firefighters across Europe continue to fight the wildfires with aerial support and ground crews in an ongoing effort to protect affected communities and infrastructure.