Wildfires are tearing through southern France, forcing the urgent evacuation of nearly 3,000 tourists and locals while placing several regions on red alert. The blazes, fueled by a record-breaking heatwave, have left at least 12 people injured — including a child.

The fires broke out on Thursday in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and rapidly spread to the popular seaside resort of Canet-en-Roussillon, near Perpignan. Half of those evacuated were holidaymakers staying at three campsites in the area. Local authorities acted quickly, moving people to safety as strong winds drove the flames across the Têt River.

Six firefighters and six civilians, including a young child, sustained minor injuries, according to officials in Pyrénées-Orientales. Thankfully, no serious casualties or fatalities were reported from the campsites thanks to timely evacuations.

Dramatic scenes showed huge flames engulfing yachts in the marina at Canet-en-Roussillon. Shocking footage captured thick black smoke billowing over the harbour as terrified campers fled. One witness described hearing around 30 explosions as the fire took hold, while another noted how quickly the flames advanced.

Firefighting efforts have been intense. Hundreds of firefighters, along with four water-bombing helicopters and aircraft, were deployed to battle the infernos. In the Aude and Hérault regions — the worst affected — the fires have already scorched more than 2,200 acres of land.

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the overall situation as tense, noting that nearly 7,000 fires have broken out across the country since the start of the summer season, burning more than thirty square miles of land.

The wildfires come after weeks of extreme heat, with temperatures continuing to rise and winds strengthening, complicating containment efforts. Last year, the Aude region suffered France’s worst wildfire in decades.

Officials have warned tourists not to swim, as lifeguards have been redeployed to assist with firefighting operations.

This developing story highlights the growing threat of extreme weather events in Europe during the summer months. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as firefighting operations remain ongoing.