Southern Europe battles raging wildfires; Tour de France stage goes spectator-free

Wildfires are currently devastating southern Europe, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and prompting officials to ban spectators from a stage of the Tour de France cycling race. Hundreds of firefighters are battling blazes that have consumed over 19,000 hectares (42,000 acres) across Portugal, Spain, France, and Greece.

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The fire came within 300 meters of the houses. We were taken aback by how fast it spread, it was staggering -- bordering on panic.

In southwestern France, near Perpignan, a "gigantic" blaze spreading in a remote area has forced the evacuation of over 10,000 residents. Fueled by wind, intense heat, and dry air, the fire has nearly tripled in size since Sunday, injuring a firefighter and a resident. "The fire came within 300 meters of the houses. We were taken aback by how fast it spread, it was staggering -- bordering on panic," said one local resident.

These fires follow a severe June heatwave, which scientists from the World Weather Attribution group stated would have been "virtually impossible" without climate change. With temperatures predicted to reach 40C again, authorities are alarmed that the summer wildfire season has begun a month early. "Climate change is here, we are living the consequences and it is only the start of July," warned French fire service Colonel Eric Belgioino, appealing for public cooperation in preventing fires.

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We started seeing smoke around 10:30 pm, then it kept coming closer and closer. Someone from the town hall knocked on our door around 1:00 am to tell us to leave.

As a precautionary measure, officials announced that Monday's Tour de France stage through the Pyrenees would proceed without spectators. "The public is asked not to go near the route or to the finish area," stated regional prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe, regretting that it would be a Tour de France stage "without spectators" in France.

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one of Europe's worst, during which thousands of excess deaths were registered and which would have been 'virtually impossible' without climate change.

In Greece, fires have also ignited, with flames reportedly setting off a "poisonous cloud."

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Climate change is here, we are living the consequences and it is only the start of July.