Wildfires Rage in France Following Record Heatwave, Destroying Area Equivalent to 1,330 Soccer Fields

France, having just endured a record-breaking heatwave, is now struggling with simultaneous wildfires across the country.

French fire authorities stated that more than 30 wildfires have broken out across France since July 1 (local time), with approximately 2,000 firefighters deployed to combat the blazes.

AFP reported that the regions of Aude, Herault, Pyrenees-Orientales, and Bouches-du-Rhone have been hit the hardest.

In the Mediterranean resort areas of Canet-en-Roussillon and Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, wildfires spread to campsites and port facilities, forcing 1,700 vacationers to evacuate.

Local authorities in Canet-en-Roussillon stated in a press release that "281 bungalows at the campsite were engulfed in flames and completely destroyed." They added that six civilians, including one child, and six volunteer firefighters sustained minor injuries, while seven municipal police officers suffered from mild smoke inhalation.

The mayor of Canet-en-Roussillon told AFP, "Vacationers left the campsite without even being able to pack their belongings. Most of them are tourists from Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands, and they are all in a state of shock."

Due to the smoke from the wildfires, flights scheduled to depart from Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport to Paris, Brussels, and London were canceled on the afternoon of July 2.

On the evening of the same day, a section of the A9 motorway heading toward Spain was temporarily closed due to the fires.

As of the morning of July 3, fire authorities announced that the spread of the wildfires in the Canet-en-Roussillon area has been contained.

The wildfires have destroyed approximately 950 hectares in Aude and surrounding areas, an area equivalent to 1,330 soccer fields.

Authorities stated that while the flames have been contained as winds, which once gusted at 70 km/h, have calmed down, they are keeping about 500 firefighters on the scene to monitor for any remaining embers.

The damage is attributed to strong winds and dry weather that followed a record-breaking heatwave that lasted for over ten days.

Fire authorities warned that the risk of wildfires will remain high for the time being, particularly in the southern regions, and urged residents and tourists to refrain from entering forests and using open flames.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.