Wildfires break out in several areas of France

• In France’s Aude and Hérault regions, wildfires broke out on Thursday, burning through more than 900 hectares
• To contain the fires, up to 800 firefighters were deployed, along with several Canadair water-bombing aircraft
• In the Marseille area, firefighters were battling blazes: at Frejus, they managed to contain the fire after it spread across more than 2,000 hectares

Wildfires have been raging in several regions of France since Thursday afternoon. The most severe situation is in the Aude and Hérault departments, where more than 800 wildfires have been recorded. According to the latest reports, more than 900 hectares have burned.

Marseille firefighters have been fighting the blaze around the clock: on Thursday, it spread, and by evening they were able to gain control, though they still had not managed to fully extinguish it. In Aude, according to Prefect Alain Boucquet, two departments are being protected from the fires at once, and Canadair aircraft are being used to do so. The wind also contributed, fanning the flames.

In all, three regions of France—two of them in the south—are affected by the fires. The authorities say that around 1,210 hectares have been burned, while strong winds are complicating the fight. Firefighting aircraft were deployed in Rognac, near Marseille, and the fire was also tackled with a gas-fighting aircraft in Lancon-Provence, which is located 260 kilometers away. Officials report that there are no casualties.

According to meteorologists, the fires are expected to intensify by the end of the day as temperatures rise and winds strengthen. The next few hours are crucial: firefighters will be working to prevent the flames from spreading further, and the fire is expected to be contained by nightfall. By the afternoon, the fire is expected to reach its peak, and then the situation should improve.

In France, the situation is also worsening due to the fires: in Frejus, in the Var department, more than 2,000 people are involved in the firefighting efforts. In Greece, meanwhile, two wildfires broke out in different parts of the country; in the central part of Greece, the fire involved 135 firefighters and 25 vehicles. Firefighting efforts are also underway in the Greek region of the Peloponnese, where the fire has been burning for 12 hours; the flames are still spreading, and the wind is making it difficult to contain.

Tags: Weather/Europe