Latest news with #BouchesduRhone
Sky News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
Marseille wildfire live: Flames 'at gates' of city could continue to grow - as strong winds make it 'difficult to control'
Are you affected? Get in touch We'll bring you all the latest as we get it on the developing fire in the Marseille area of southern France. But if you have information or pictures to share with us, get in touch. You can comment using the form at the top of this page, or get in touch via WhatsApp here. By sending us your video footage, photographs or audio, you agree we can publish, broadcast and edit the material. Main objective is to 'defend Marseille', local official says - as more firefighters deployed After announcing that the fire has now spread to 700 hectares (see 16.24 post), we can bring you more from Georges-Francois Leclerc, prefect of Bouches-du-Rhone. He said the situation is "not frozen but under control". The main objective is now to "defend Marseille", he added. Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan told French broadcaster BFMTV that around 720 firefighters are battling the blaze, with more than 220 fire service vehicles deployed. 'Very difficult to control' fire started by car on side of motorway, local president says "This fire started when a car caught fire on the side of the motorway," according to Martine Vassal, president of the Aix-Marseille-Provence area. "Given the strength of the wind, it jumped the highway and from then on, it was very difficult to control." Vassal insisted it was "too early to say" if the fire was caused by arson or an accident, but added that an investigation has been opened. In pictures: Smoke engulfs areas around Marseille It's a fast moving situation in and around Marseille but the scale of this fire is becoming clearer. Images on social media, via the Reuters news agency, show enormous clouds of smoke engulfing areas around the city. Emergency alert issued to hundreds of phones after wildfire broke out Local media are reporting that an emergency message was sent to hundreds of phones in the area after the fire broke out. "Avoid this area. Allow the security and emergency services to pass. Do not block emergency numbers," the message said. Some homes have been evacuated, while emergency services are urging people not to travel unless they have clear instructions to do so. Marseille fire has burned 700 hectares - with winds expected throughout evening French authorities say the fire has already burned 700 hectares. More than 10 buildings have burned, but no fatalities have been recorded in the Marseille area. Emergency services have reported to broadcaster France 3 that the weather conditions are looking extremely unfavourable. According to reports, gale-force winds have been fanning the flames with gusts reaching as high as 70mph. Winds are not expected to weaken before 11pm local time tonight. Train services suspended after fire near tracks Flights aren't the only mode of transport impacted by the wildfire closing in on Marseille. Trains have also been affected, with Zou! rail service suspending its services in both directions between Marseille and Miramas. That's after a fire near the tracks at L'Estaque. Watch: 168 firefighters deployed to fight blaze The local fire service says 168 firefighters have been deployed to fight the blaze. They're mainly focusing near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, northwest of Marseille, with French broadcaster BFMTV reporting that the fire has already covered 350 hectares. Huge plumes of smoke can be seen billowing into the sky in the video below. Flights being diverted after airport closed Flights to and from Marseille Provence Airport have been suspended due to the wildfire raging close to the southern French city. Local media have been reporting that flights have been diverted to other nearby airports like Nice following the outbreak of the fire. Passengers impacted have been told to contact their airline. Mayor urges Marseille residents to 'limit their movements' We can bring you more from Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan, who has urged residents to be "extremely vigilant". "The violent fire declared in Pennes-Mirabeau is now at the gates of Marseille," he wrote on X. "I ask all Marseillais to be extremely vigilant and to limit their movements as much as possible to make way for emergency services, particularly in the north of the city."
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lightning at a Zoo in France Leaves Woman in Critical Condition
A lightning strike at a zoo in southern France on Wednesday left a German woman in critical condition, a fire service said. The Bouches-du-Rhone region fire service said another 12 people were slightly injured, four of them children. They had gathered during a rainstorm at the La Barben animal park, north of Marseille. According to The Associated Press, the service said no animals were hit. It wasn't immediately clear whether anyone was struck directly. The service said the lightning appeared to strike the ground first. It said some people had sore ears and eyes. It said it had no immediate details about the German woman's injuries. The zoo didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
CTV News
14-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Lightning at a zoo in France leaves a woman in critical condition
PARIS — A lightning strike at a zoo in southern France on Wednesday left a German woman in critical condition, a fire service said. The Bouches-du-Rhone region fire service said another 12 people were slightly injured, four of them children. They had gathered during a rainstorm at the La Barben animal park, north of Marseille. The service said no animals were hit. It wasn't immediately clear whether anyone was struck directly. The service said the lightning appeared to strike the ground first. It said some people had sore ears and eyes. It said it had no immediate details about the German woman's injuries. The zoo didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The Associated Press
