Wildfires rage in France, 3,000 people evacuated

Nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated in southern France, and water-bombing planes were deployed to combat wildfires following a record-breaking heatwave last month. A wildfire in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer spread to Canet-en-Roussillon, leading to the evacuation of tourists and local residents, including 1,500 from three campsites. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries. Two hundred firefighters and four water-bombing aircraft are involved in the efforts. Pierre Regnault de La Mothe, the top regional official for Pyrenees-Orientales, stated that a large network of volunteers is being mobilized. France experienced an 11-day heatwave in June with temperatures exceeding 40C, which the World Meteorological Organisation noted increased the risk of wildfires. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez mentioned that 1,200 firefighters have been mobilized since Wednesday to battle forest fires, adding that weather conditions remain unfavorable. Meteo-France predicts another period of elevated temperatures next week, though not as extreme as in June. Some French politicians have criticized the government's response to rising temperatures, with the Greens filing a no-confidence motion.