A wildfire near Perpignan is burning out of control and has forced the evacuation of about 10,500 residents from more than two dozen communes as strong winds and extreme heat push flames across roughly 4,600–5,000 hectares.Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez says conditions are worsening, firefighters were injured after the fire reached a fire truck, and authorities have closed public access to the third stage of the Tour de France while the race proceeds with a reduced team convoy.The
EU is sending four waterbombing aircraft from Cyprus and Sweden to assist French and Spanish crews, Catalan authorities have arrested a government‑contracted worker accused of starting the blaze with an angle grinder, and a separate fire in Castellón evacuated 500 people from the Sierra de Espadán national park.