More than 3000 holidaymakers were evacuated from camp sites around Perpignan yesterday (Wednesday 13th July) as fires were whipped up by the strong "tramontane" winds. One pompier was killed and three injured in trying to overcome the flames. Near Narbonne 200 hectares of pine forest went up in flame threatening to disrupt the passage of the Tour de France. In the Marseilles region the mistral was equally strong and large fires have been reported in that area.
One other consequence of the strong winds in the south today is the shortening of the Tour de France stage to Mont Ventoux in the Alps, where it was judged too dangerous to finish the stage at the summit, as usual.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com
