The third stage of the Tour de France will be closed to spectators on Monday (6 July) after a fast-moving wildfire in southwestern France prompted exceptional safety measures, organisers and local authorities announced.
Although the race route remains unchanged, public access to the final stretch has been banned as firefighters battle the blaze near the finish in Les Angles.
The wildfire has burned more than 1,600 hectares roughly 60 kilometres from the finish line and continues to spread under hot, dry and windy conditions.
Race organisers confirmed the Tour's promotional caravan will not travel along the final 40 kilometres after the race crosses into France from Spain. Riders will instead complete the stage with only essential race staff present.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme said the scale of the emergency required extraordinary measures.
"An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour," he said.
Authorities urged fans to stay away from the route and finish area to allow emergency services to focus on firefighting operations.
Around 750 firefighters, supported by 200 vehicles and nine water-bombing aircraft and helicopters, are battling the blaze in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, where the fire front has stretched to 18 kilometres.
No fatalities have been reported, but one firefighter and one local resident remain in critical condition. Emergency crews are working to prevent the flames spreading south towards the Tet River valley and the mountainous Aspres region.
The wildfire comes as extreme heat grips much of Europe, increasing wildfire danger across the continent. Seven departments in southern France were placed under "very high fire risk" alerts by Météo-France on Sunday.
Across the border in Spain's Catalonia region, where the opening two stages of the Tour were held, firefighters said a blaze that scorched around 2,200 hectares in the Les Gavarres area had been stabilised.
Authorities believe the fire was sparked by a worker using a circular saw, and a suspect was arrested on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next week as tensions continue to rise across the Mid...
Brazil has denied visa requests for two Trump administration officials who planned to travel to the country to cast doubt on the integrity of its elec...
A journey into one of the darkest chapters of the Baltic states' history. ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
The U.S. military said it completed a fresh wave of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, marking the 13th consecutive night of American attacks. The latest operation lasted more than two hours, according to U.S. Central Command.
Spain has declared a national emergency and evacuated more than 10,000 people after uncontrolled wildfires reached the outskirts of Madrid. Emergency crews have rescued residents as multiple blazes continue to spread across the region.
Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations Secretary-General have called for restoring the organisation's credibility, strengthening multilateralism and reforming the UN, during the first public town hall debate ahead of a decisive Security Council vote next week.
Brazil has banned the production and sale of foie gras, the French delicacy made from fattened duck or goose liver. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law late Thursday aimed at ending force-feeding in the country's foie gras industry and stopping imports.
At least 82 people have died after heavy rain triggered devastating floods across northeastern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan this week, with widespread damage to homes, farmland and infrastructure.
Communities in Spain's northwestern Galicia region are bringing back native livestock, including the hardy Cachena breed, to help reduce the risk of devastating wildfires while restoring ecosystems.
Spanish military firefighters worked through the night into Sunday to contain the La Mierla wildfire, which continued to spread across Guadalajara province in central Spain.
At least 10 people were killed and several others reported missing after flash floods struck Rajouri city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, according to local media.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment