Wildfire that reached Marseilles pushed back but not extinguished
Meanwhile, Marseille's mayor lifted a confinement order for tens of thousands of people.
Mayor Benoit Payan said the fire was in 'net regression' on Wednesday morning after racing towards the historic Mediterranean port city on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and the population of an entire city district to barricade themselves indoors on official orders.
Spurred on by hot summer winds, the fire grounded all flights to and from Marseille and halted train traffic in most of the surrounding area on Tuesday. Train, road and plane traffic remained complicated on Wednesday.
A cruise ship seen through the smoke in the port of Marseille (Lewis Joly/AP)
The mayor said 110 people had been treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries.
More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire, which broke out near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau before racing towards Marseille. Some 720 hectares were hit by the blaze, the local authority said.
It described the fire as 'particularly virulent'. It came on a cloudless, windy day after a lengthy heat wave around Europe left the area parched and at heightened risk for wildfires.
Several wildfires have broken out in southern France in recent days, including one in the Aude region that has burned some 2,000 hectares and continued to rage on Wednesday.
Light grey smoke gave the sky over Marseille's old port a dusty aspect as water-dropping planes attempted to extinguish the fire on the outskirts of the city, which has some 900,000 inhabitants.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- RTÉ News
France battles smouldering fire near Marseille, warns of flare-ups
A wildfire that reached the northwestern outskirts of Marseille in France lost intensity overnight, though firefighters are continuing to battle the smouldering blaze and warned that it could flare up again. Officials told residents they were no longer in lockdown, though some who were evacuated were likely to find their homes destroyed. Ten houses were completely burnt down and dozens damaged, they said, though no fatalities were reported. "Everything on my grandmother's property was destroyed," resident Melanie Basques said, adding that her grandmother was safe after being evacuated yesterday. But the destruction was extensive, she said. "There are three families on that land, and on our side, everything was destroyed - sheds, homes, everything. Photos that were sent show her house is completely destroyed." Marseille firefighters' chief Lionel Mathieu said around 700 crew, assisted by helicopters dropping water, were trying to rein in fires north of the city and prevent them from being rekindled. "It is clear that with such a major fire, there may be new flare-ups," Marseille prefect Georges-Francois Leclerc told reporters. Mediterranean countries are in a "wildfire hotspot," scientists say, with blazes common in hot and dry weather which have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. This week and last week, fires have also raged in northeastern Spain and in parts of Greece, including Athens and the island of Crete. Homes destroyed Meanwhile, Marseille residents who were evacuated were trying to get news of their homes. Djenna Boualia said her parents' house on the northern outskirts of the city was still standing. "The fire was really close. There were even flames in the garden," Boualia told Reuters, adding: "My mother was panicking." "There have been fires in the area before, several times, but never of this scale; never like this... My parents have lived there for 25 years, and we had never seen a house burn," she said. The airport for Marseille was reopened but could close again to prioritise air space if the fire flares up again. Roads were reopened too, as were some train routes. Yesterday, the blaze, which officials said was caused by a car that caught fire on a highway, was fanned by winds of up to 70km/ph. The fire in Marseille and a separate blaze near the city of Narbonne, were the first major ones of the summer, Sophie Primas, a government spokesperson, said in an interview with RTL, adding that the wildfire season had started earlier this year.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Marseille on wildfire ‘lockdown' alert & more than 100 hurt amid looting as blazes race into city & close airport again
FIREFIGHTERS continue to battle with the wildfire in Marseille with over 100 people injured as the blaze raced into the city. Despite the 7 A massive wildfire broke out in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, on the outskirts of Marseille Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 In the northern districts of Marseille, residents and emergency workers attempt to contain the last remaining flames Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 A helicopter flies over smoke rising from a fast-moving wildfire Credit: Reuters 7 More than 100 people have been injured as the wildfire burnt through a whopping 1,700 acres of land, reaching the edge of Marseille. One building was decimated while ten others were damaged as residents were evacuated and some were urged to stay indoors and off the roads. But residents who had been told on Tuesday to stay in their homes for their own safety were finally allowed out, Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan confirmed on X, but are told to "exercise the utmost caution". The blaze was fanned by winds of up to a whopping 43mph and could be smelt in the centre of Marseille, with plumes of thick smoke hanging over the tourist hotspot city. read more news And fears loom that Marseille International Airport could shut down again to prioritise air resources if the fire flares up. Yesterday, at least 10 flights were cancelled with the airport forced to close its runways in the afternoon. Its website yesterday showed departures called off, including to Brussels, Munich and Naples. Martine Vassal, head of the area council, said firefighters had worked through the night to control the fire, which she said remained a cause for concern. Most read in The US Sun "It is not finished. Weather conditions are worrying for us," Vassal told broadcaster BFM. It was too soon for the hundreds of residents who had fled from the wildfire to return, officials said. 'Apocalyptic' blazes force Marseilles airport to SHUT as residents evacuated & choking smoke billows over French region Nine firefighters were among the 110 injured by the horrific blaze. Meanwhile looting has been reported in evacuated properties in the Estaque neighbourhood, situated in the north of Marseille, French site Frontiere reported. Four water bomber helicopters, one Dash aircraft and four Canadair - specialist firefighting aircraft - were deployed to tackle the blaze. Water-dropping planes worked to extinguish the fire on the outskirts of the city, which has some 900,000 inhabitants. The wildfire also interrupted train traffic as the blaze spread rapidly to the edges of the southern French city. High-speed train traffic resumed today while local train traffic remains severely disrupted, railway operator SNCF announced. Officials said the blaze was caused by a car that caught on fire. The fire had burnt through 2.7 square miles but no fatalities had been reported, regional prefect Georges-Francois Leclerc said late on Tuesday. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told reporters that the fire had been fast-moving, affecting 60 houses and burning down 10 yesterday evening. The fire in Marseille and a separate one near Narbonne, another southern French city, were the first major fires of the summer, Sophie Primas, the government's spokesperson, said in an interview with RTL on Wednesday, adding that wildfire season had come early this year. This week and last week, fires have also raged in northeastern Spain , on the Greek island of Crete, and in Athens. 7 A massive wildfire broke out in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, on the outskirts of Marseille Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 The fire, which crossed the nearby highway, destroyed several homes and vehicles Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 7 A destroyed car from the flames Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Wildfire that reached Marseilles pushed back but not extinguished
A wildfire that reached France's second-largest city and left 110 injured was pushed back overnight but had not yet been extinguished, the authorities said. Meanwhile, Marseille's mayor lifted a confinement order for tens of thousands of people. Mayor Benoit Payan said the fire was in 'net regression' on Wednesday morning after racing towards the historic Mediterranean port city on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and the population of an entire city district to barricade themselves indoors on official orders. Spurred on by hot summer winds, the fire grounded all flights to and from Marseille and halted train traffic in most of the surrounding area on Tuesday. Train, road and plane traffic remained complicated on Wednesday. A cruise ship seen through the smoke in the port of Marseille (Lewis Joly/AP) The mayor said 110 people had been treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries. More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire, which broke out near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau before racing towards Marseille. Some 720 hectares were hit by the blaze, the local authority said. It described the fire as 'particularly virulent'. It came on a cloudless, windy day after a lengthy heat wave around Europe left the area parched and at heightened risk for wildfires. Several wildfires have broken out in southern France in recent days, including one in the Aude region that has burned some 2,000 hectares and continued to rage on Wednesday. Light grey smoke gave the sky over Marseille's old port a dusty aspect as water-dropping planes attempted to extinguish the fire on the outskirts of the city, which has some 900,000 inhabitants.
