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 and officials said strong winds on Monday would further fan the blaze. The European Union said on Monday it was sending four waterbombing aircraft to France from Cyprus and Sweden to help firefighters around the city of Perpignan. …The blaze has injured 16 people, including four firefighters, and scorched some 4,600 hectares in the foothills of the French Pyrenees. Early summer heat waves in ⁠France and across ⁠western Europe in May and ‌June have scorched vast areas of land, making them particularly vulnerable to wildfires this year. The Trevillach blaze was burning near the third stage of the Tour de France, leading to its closure to the public on Monday to allow firefighters easy access to the area, according to Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme.

Additional coverage in the Guardian, by Jon Henley: Wildfires rage across southern Europe, forcing thousands to flee homes – Tour de France spectator ban as country along with Spain, Portugal and Greece faces ‘powder keg’ after heatwave