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Large Wildfires Rage Across Southern Europe, Forcing Mass Evacuations

Extreme heat, drought plus strong winds have fueled fast-moving blazes that stretch local and EU firefighting capacity.

Overview

  • The biggest blaze in the Pyrénées-Orientales, which authorities reported on Monday, has burned about 4,600–5,000 hectares and led to roughly 10,000 people being moved from 26 villages west of Perpignan.
  • Officials said at least five people were injured, including firefighters, with some later reports of higher injury counts as crews continued rescue and containment work.
  • Portugal’s fire near Vouzela has destroyed roughly 12,000–13,000 hectares and required more than 1,200 personnel, hundreds of vehicles and multiple aircraft to fight the flames.
  • Near Thessaloniki in northern Greece, fires that engulfed a recycling plant and a textile factory forced the transfer of 151 long‑term care patients to hospitals and prompted evacuations while a suspect was presented to a judge.
  • France has requested and received aerial support through the EU civil protection mechanism and event organisers limited the Tour de France’s French stage to protect firefighting resources, a development that highlights an unusually early and severe fire season driven by record heat and prolonged dryness.