A wildfire has forced the evacuation of thousands of people in southern France as the country grapples with the impacts of an early summer heatwave that scorched much of Europe.

More than 10,000 people have been ordered to leave more than a dozen small towns and villages in the foothills of the French Pyrenees, near the border with Spain.

The fire, located in Trévillach near Perpignan, has burned at least 4,600 hectares (11,366 acres), local ​prefect Pierre Regnault de la Mothe said in a post on ​X.

"This morning conditions are deteriorating again," Interior Minister Laurent ⁠Nunez cautioned on French TV station TF1. "Today the battle resumes."

Authorities have warned that strong winds could further fan the wildfire.

"It came within 300 metres (984ft) of the houses. We were shocked by how fast it spread, it was staggering – bordering on panic," Patrice, from Trévillach, told the AFP news agency.

Tour de France spectators have been urged to stay away from the conclusion of the third stage of the cycling race on Monday to allow access for emergency vehicles to the area.

The third stage, which is 195.9km (121 miles) long, begins in the Spanish city of Granollers and concludes in Les Angles, located in the Pyrénées-Orientales region of France.

Tour organisers have asked fans and unessential personnel to stay away from the final 40km and said that a motorcade of team vehicles that follows will now be kept to a minimum.

"An exceptional fire calls for exceptional measures for the Tour," said race director Christian Prudhomme. "We invite the public not to come to the edge of the race or to the finish site."