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Approximately 110 individuals have sustained injuries in a rapidly spreading wildfire that has reached the outskirts of Marseille, France’s second-largest city.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that around 800 firefighters are on scene, and efforts to combat the blaze will persist “all night,” as the fire remains uncontained.
Earlier, Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan described the situation, stating that the “marine firefighter battalion is waging guerrilla warfare, hoses in hand,” referring to the city’s dedicated fire and rescue service.
French media outlets report that at least 400 residents have been evacuated from their homes, and nine firefighters are among the injured.
Residents were advised to remain indoors and were urged against self-initiated evacuations to maintain clear roadways for emergency vehicles.
According to French broadcaster BFMTV, the fire’s peak spread reached 1.2km (0.7 miles) per minute. The mayor attributed the rapid progression to a combination of strong wind gusts, dense vegetation, and steep terrain.
French President Emmanuel Macron, while on a state visit to the UK, conveyed his support for the fire crews and urged residents to adhere to safety instructions.
“Our thoughts are with the injured and all residents,” he posted on X.
Interior Minister Retailleau arrived in Marseille on Tuesday evening for meetings with local authorities.
Marseille Provence Airport announced a partial reopening from 21:30 local time (19:30 GMT) after being closed for several hours since approximately midday on Tuesday. Airport President Julien Coffinier stated he had “never experienced a situation of this magnitude.”
The fire, which ignited earlier on Tuesday near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille, is reported to have consumed approximately 700 hectares (7 sq km).
Local authorities indicated that the blaze originated from a vehicle fire on the motorway.
“It’s very striking – apocalyptic even,” Monique Baillard, a local resident, told Reuters. She noted that many of her neighbors had already evacuated.
Visuals depict significant plumes of smoke rising above Marseille as the fire rages in the hilly terrain to the north.
BFMTV reports that the Bouches-du-Rhône area has not recorded any rainfall since May 19.
In other regions of France, a separate wildfire that began near Narbonne on Monday remains active, fueled by winds reaching 60km/h (40mph). Local officials report that approximately 2,000 hectares have been burned.
Wildfires have also been reported in other parts of Europe, including the Catalonia region of northeast Spain. In the eastern province of Tarragona, over 18,000 people were ordered to remain indoors on Tuesday due to a wildfire.
Emergency units were deployed alongside 300 firefighters as strong overnight winds intensified the flames, which have spread across nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of land.
Several other regions of Spain, which experienced its hottest June on record, were placed on high alert for wildfires.
In Greece, approximately 41 wildfires erupted across the country on Monday. According to the fire service, 34 of these were contained early, while seven remained active into Monday evening.
Much of western and southern Europe has been impacted by an intense early summer heatwave, triggering fires that have led to the evacuation of thousands from their homes.
The death toll looks certain to rise as search-and-rescue teams brace for further storms.
Terrified girls at Camp Mystic swam through the broken window of one cabin into the swirling darkness of the flood.
Search and rescue efforts continue after flash floods swept through central Texas killing at least 51.
Survivors describe a deluge that pounced with devastating speed in the pre-dawn hours in central Texas.
Jason Allen, correspondent at the BBC’s US partner CBS, reports from Kerrville, Texas.
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