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.
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On the Portuguese mainland, some 1,800 firefighters were battling a dozen major forest fires that have raged since last weekend in the north of the country.
The city was setting up firewalls on the corridor leading toward it, but if the fire passed those, “it will move toward the northern neighborhoods of Marseille”, Mr Ruas said.
Meanwhile, three people have died in raging forest fires on Portugal’s holiday island of Madeira where flames damaged homes and a hotel and forced around 1,000 people to flee.
Fires spread through areas of southern France and Portugal on Wednesday, killing at least four people and burning many homes, forcing the evacuation of thousands, including tourists.
A man behaving suspiciously in Vitrolles, one of the towns most ravaged by flames, was detained for questioning, according to French media.
High winds were fanning the fires and thick smoke was visible across the region.
The fire is burning its way towards Marseilles.
In an immediate response to Portugal’s request for assistance, the European Union activated the Civil Protection Mechanism to help stop the spread of forest fires in several parts of the country.
Residents of the region north of Marseille, especially Vitrolles and nearby Pennes-Mirabeau, woke up to take an accounting of the scorched and still-smoking landscape and their losses.
People stand by emergency workers as a fire which has already devastated some 200 hectares approaches Vitrolles, southern France.
‘We haven’t seen a situation like this for a very long time, ‘ a fire service spokesperson told The Local.
Flight delays continued Thursday evening at Marseille’s airport which had rerouted incoming flights on Wednesday to cope with firefighting aircraft.
“The fire is progressing”.
At the French port of Fos-sur-Mer northwest of Marseille, 800 hectares went up in flames on Wednesday, prompting fears for the safety of oil and chemical terminals.
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Some 1,800 firefighters including many drafted in from elsewhere in France joined the battle backed by around 500 rescue vehicles, five air tankers and two helicopters and around 100 police, Rampon said.
