A significant wildfire erupted on Saturday in the Pyrénées-Orientales, prompting the evacuation of a camping site and nearby residences as a precaution.

The fire, fueled by strong southern winds reaching 60 km/h, quickly spread between the villages of Villelongue-dels-Monts and Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines, burning over 110 hectares.

Despite the efforts of 340 firefighters, including aerial support from Canadairs and helicopters, the blaze continued to pose a threat to inhabited areas.

The region, already under a red alert for forest fire risk due to severe drought, saw the activation of local emergency plans, leading to the evacuation of residents and tourists to communal shelters.

By Sunday, the fire was contained, but firefighters remained on site to prevent any resurgence.

This incident highlights the increasing vulnerability of the area to wildfires, exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather conditions.