Emergency crews are battling several wildfires across southern France on July 2, after flames destroyed approximately 1,200 hectares of land the previous day, according to French authorities.
During a visit to Marseille, French official Sébastien Lecornu said the fires have broken out two to three weeks earlier than the usual wildfire season, with multiple outbreaks reported across several locations.
Lecornu said that around 7,000 wildfire incidents have been recorded since the start of the fire season, burning approximately 8,700 hectares of land, although he did not specify the exact period covered by those figures.
In response to the escalating situation, nearly 2,000 additional firefighters have been deployed over the past two days, as authorities described conditions as highly challenging.
France experienced an exceptional heatwave throughout June, although temperatures have eased slightly in recent days. During the month, the country reported approximately 1,000 heat-related deaths, while several other European countries also endured extreme temperatures.
Scientists warn that climate change is making heatwaves more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting. While extreme heat alone does not ignite wildfires, high temperatures, prolonged drought, low humidity, and strong winds significantly increase the risk of fires starting and spreading rapidly.
