Wildfires spread across southern France following heatwave, disrupting travel, and prompting mass evacuations
Wildfires forced the evacuation of 1,500 campers and the closure of Perpignan Airport as strong winds fuelled blazes across southern France
Thousands of firefighters have been deployed across southern France as multiple wildfires continue to burn along the Mediterranean coast, disrupting travel and forcing the evacuation of holidaymakers following an intense European heatwave.
French authorities said around 2,000 firefighters were battling several blazes on 2 July, fuelled by strong winds and exceptionally dry conditions after record temperatures swept across western Europe in late June.
One of the most significant incidents occurred in Canet-en-Roussillon, near the Spanish border, where approximately 1,500 people were evacuated from campsites as flames spread towards the town.
The fire also prompted the temporary closure of nearby Perpignan Airport, affecting air travel during the peak summer holiday season.
Television footage showed warehouses and a yacht engulfed in flames as thick smoke drifted across the coastline.
Elsewhere, firefighters brought two wildfires on the outskirts of Marseille under control, although crews continued to tackle a larger blaze in the Aude department, where high winds of up to 70km/h complicated suppression efforts. The fire had burned around 900 hectares by Thursday.
France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, convened a crisis meeting in Marseille as authorities coordinated the national response. He said 8,700 hectares had been destroyed by wildfires across France so far this season, including approximately 1,200 hectares on Wednesday alone.
The fires follow a prolonged period of exceptionally high temperatures across Europe. Last week, the World Meteorological Organization warned that sustained heat, low humidity and dry vegetation would significantly increase wildfire risk across parts of the continent, with further periods of extreme heat forecast.
The latest fires demonstrate how climate-related events are increasingly affecting travel operations during the busy summer season. Airport closures, campsite evacuations, road restrictions, and accommodation disruptions can generate a wide range of claims relating to trip interruption, additional accommodation costs, transport delays, and emergency assistance.