France: Significant Wildfire Near Marseille Closes Airport
A large number of firefighters have been deployed to the outskirts of the southern French port city to stop the fire from reaching residential neighborhoods.
Air and train services have been disrupted, and residents are advised to stay indoors.
A swiftly spreading wildfire on the outskirts of Marseille resulted in the halting of airport operations on Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesperson for Marseille airport stated that flights were grounded starting around midday, with some being rerouted to Nice and other nearby airports.
The local fire department reported that 168 firefighters were actively working to control a blaze fueled by strong winds, which has burned approximately 350 hectares (860 acres) near Les Pennes-Mirabeau, located northwest of Marseille.
“Residents are currently advised to remain indoors,” announced the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region on X.
“Please ensure windows and doors are closed, keep your property accessible for emergency services, and avoid traveling on the roads,” the advisory continued.
The city of Marseille also communicated via X, urging residents to “refrain from all outdoor activities” and to follow instructions and alerts.
Marseille’s mayor, Benoit Payan, cautioned residents on X that the fire was “at the gates of Marseille,” advising those in the northern part of the city to avoid road travel to allow rescue teams easier access.
Thick smoke was reported at the northern edge of Marseille. A representative from the mayor’s office for the 15th and 16th boroughs, which border Les Pennes-Mirabeau, indicated that the area on the outskirts of the city was increasingly threatened by the fire.
Residents reported being instructed to stay indoors, close doors, and use damp cloths to seal any openings, although evacuation orders had not yet been issued.
In a related event, a wildfire that broke out near the southwestern coastal city of Narbonne on Monday has devastated around 2,000 hectares of land and continues to burn in the area.
Severe Fires in Northeast Spain and Greece
Several European countries remain on high alert for extreme heat and wildfires as an early summer heatwave in May and June has set records, with temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) in nations such as Spain and Greece.
As of Tuesday evening, wildfires were still active in northeastern Spain, while fires on Greece’s largest island, Crete, had forced the evacuation of over 1,500 people from their homes and hotels last week.
