Wildfires in southern France have forced the evacuation of nearly 3,000 people as firefighters battle fast-spreading blazes fuelled by extreme heat and dry weather.

According to Punch, citing AFP, the fires broke out in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer before spreading to Canet-en-Roussillon on Thursday, prompting emergency evacuations of tourists and residents.

Authorities said around half of those evacuated were staying in three campsites within the affected areas.

Regional official Pierre Regnault de La Mothe confirmed that two firefighters sustained minor injuries during efforts to contain the fires.

Emergency responders deployed 200 firefighters alongside four water-bombing aircraft to tackle the flames.

“We are mobilising a large network of volunteers,” the official said.

The fires come after a severe heatwave swept across France in June, lasting 11 days and pushing temperatures above 40°C in several regions.

The World Meteorological Organization recently warned that extreme heat is increasing wildfire risks while also impacting public health, agriculture, ecosystems and infrastructure.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 1,200 firefighters had been mobilised since Wednesday to combat forest fires nationwide.

He warned that weather conditions remain highly unfavourable, raising concerns about further outbreaks.

Meanwhile, Météo-France has forecast another spell of elevated temperatures next week, although conditions are not expected to be as extreme as June’s heatwave.

The worsening wildfire situation has also intensified political pressure, with some French politicians criticising the government’s response to rising temperatures and climate-related emergencies.