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Wildfire in France forces Tour de France to ban fans from stage finale
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- A large wildfire in southern France near the Pyrenees town of Les Angles has led Tour de France organizers to ban fans from attending the finale of the third stage to ensure safety and allow firefighting efforts.
- Nearly 700 firefighters are battling the blaze, which has burned about 1,821 hectares and caused evacuations of over two dozen villages; authorities prioritized protecting people, property, and natural areas.
- Greece has experienced 96 wildfires in 48 hours, with the largest near Athens requiring extensive firefighting resources and evacuation orders, while several areas remain at high risk due to strong winds.
- Spain and Portugal are facing another heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 42°C (108°F) in parts of Spain, contributing to wildfire risks and tropical nights that hinder nighttime cooling.
- Scientists link the increased frequency and severity of wildfires and heatwaves in southeastern Europe to climate change, noting Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s.
