PARIS, July 6 (SANA)French authorities have evacuated around 10,000 people from 24 towns and villages in the country’s southwest near the Spanish border as expandingwildfirescontinue to spread, while officials warned that strong winds could further intensify the blaze.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned that conditions were expected to deteriorate, according to AFP, adding that firefighting crews were continuing efforts to bring the fires under control.

The regional prefect, Pierre Renou de La Motte, said the fires had already burned about 4,600 hectares on the slopes of the French Pyrenees.

Heatwaves that swept across France and western Europe during May and June left vast areas of land dry, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires and allowing flames to spread more rapidly.

The fires also affected the Tour deFrance, with flames breaking out near the route of the third stage. Authorities closed the area to spectators to facilitate emergency access while allowing the race to continue, reducing the number of accompanying vehicles to a minimum.

On the Spanish side of the border, wildfires burned around 2,200 hectares, with 97% of the affected area located within the Les Gavarres nature reserve. Catalan authorities said the fire was now under control and expected to be fully extinguished later this week.

Meanwhile, a third heatwave swept across several parts of France on Tuesday, with forecasters warning it could intensify further and push temperatures to as high as 40°C in some areas.kA.ABD