Emergency services are battling several forest fires in southern France. Many people had to leave their homes. Several campsites were evacuated. French Prime Minister Lecornu speaks of a “tense situation.”
After weeks of drought and record temperatures, several wildfires have spread across southern France. According to local authorities, the largest fire raged in the departments of Aude and Hérault, where up to 800 firefighters and 150 vehicles were deployed to extinguish the fire.
Two more forest fires broke out north of the port city of Marseille. Near Rognac, 50 hectares burned and the fire is now under control. In the Lançon-Provence region, 260 hectares have already been destroyed by flames. Two firefighting aircraft were still working there. So far no one has been hurt, but 600 people have been forced to flee their homes.
On Thursday evening, the fire service said nearly 3,000 people had been evacuated after a new fire broke out in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer. About half of the victims were removed from campsites, where dozens of mobile homes and 26 bungalows were destroyed by flames.
About 7,000 fires since the beginning of the season
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said in Marseille that 1,200 hectares of land had already burned on Wednesday alone. The fires occurred about two to three weeks earlier than usual this year. According to Lecornu, since the beginning of the season, about 7,000 fires have occurred and 8,700 hectares of land have burned. About 2,000 firefighters were on duty Wednesday and Thursday. The situation is tense.
Vegetation that had already dried out due to recent heat and strong winds made firefighting efforts difficult. Meteorologists do not expect precipitation in the coming days.