A massive fire broke out Sunday in several towns on the French Mediterranean coast near the city of Fréjus, forcing residents to evacuate their homes as the flames spread rapidly due to strong winds and severe drought conditions.

Regional governor Simon Babor told BFM TV: "The fire spread very quickly amid this heatwave and severe drought," noting the difficulty of controlling the flames under these extreme weather conditions.

The governor's office reported that the fire had consumed about 180 hectares by Sunday evening, while television footage showed huge flames advancing behind houses built on hillsides, a familiar sight in the French Riviera region, as thick clouds of black smoke rose above pine and cypress trees.

Regarding the fire's impact, train services were suspended between the Mediterranean port of Toulon and the city of Les Arcs as the flames extended to the area around the railway line.

In the climate context, the World Meteorological Organization warned last month that the record heatwaves that swept Western Europe for more than a week in late June would increase the risk of wildfires, amid expectations of continued rising temperatures, lower humidity, and drying vegetation.

The Reuters Climate Observatory predicted a maximum temperature of 38°C in Les Arcs, about 11.4°C higher than the average maximum recorded on this day, July 19, between 1961 and 1990.