A wildfire burning out of control in southwestern France has forced the evacuation of 10,000 people from two dozen small towns and villages near the Spanish border. Authorities reported on Monday that the blaze has already destroyed 4,600 hectares of forest.
Fierce winds and extreme heat have further fanned the flames, causing a fire to consume 540 hectares of scrubland in the Gard department within a matter of hours. Officials warned that strong winds on Monday would continue to fan the blaze.
These conditions follow early summer heatwaves in France and across western Europe throughout May and June, which scorched vast areas of land. This period of extreme heat created environmental conditions more prone to wildfires.