Flight delays continued Thursday evening at Marseille’s airport which had rerouted incoming flights on Wednesday to cope with firefighting aircraft.
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His government released a statement Thursday assuring visitors that tourism facilities on the island – a popular vacation destination – were returning to normal, despite the fires still burning.
Forest fires raged through parts of France’s Mediterranean coast on Thursday, with the worst in nearly two decades burning around Marseille, injuring seven people and forcing authorities to evacuate thousands from their homes.
Emergency services have been stretched by the fires raging amid fierce summer heat, with firefighters from the capital Lisbon having earlier been drafted in to fight deadly fires on the island of Madeira, some 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) southwest of the Portuguese mainland.
Wildfires have also been raging in Portugal and on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Four firefighters were injured, three of them seriously, by one of the fires, in the nearby Herault region, he said.
Two people were reported injured, one seriously, as the fire in southern France moved toward Marseille, firefighters said, and 20 to 25 homes were burned.
The blaze-which comes after low rainfall in winter and spring left southeast France extremely dry-sent a huge pall of smoke into the sky over the port city of Marseille.
Speaking on French TV, Marseille’s deputy mayor Julien Ruas said the fire was “progressing fast” and that firebreaks had been created to protect northern neighbourhoods from the flames.
“The goal … is to contain the fires to avoid them reaching towns, notably Marseille”, Cazeneuve said as he traveled to France’s second largest city.
“The fire is progressing”.
Portugal’s National Civil Protection Service reported 14 major wildfires burning out of control in mainland Portugal where nearly 4,500 firefighters were in action in a massive operation, supported by 28 water-dumping aircraft and 1,300 vehicles. At least 37 houses and a five-star hotel had burned down.
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About 400 police officers were also being mobilised, he said. Other towns affected included Pennes-Mirabeau, Saint-Victoret, Fos-sur-Mer and Rognac, where the BBC says the main fire started.
