Marseille Wildfire Injures Over 100 as Firefighting Efforts Intensify

A significant wildfire near Marseille has resulted in over 100 injuries and extensive evacuations, as firefighters combat the flames that spread rapidly due to difficult environmental conditions. Efforts to control the blaze are ongoing, with local authorities urging residents to remain vigilant.

French authorities are battling a severe wildfire that has engulfed areas near Marseille, injuring over 100 individuals, including emergency responders. Mayor Benoit Payan announced on Wednesday morning that while the intensity of the fire is decreasing, it remains uncontrolled. As of now, restrictions on evacuations around the outskirts of the city have been lifted due to a noticeable decrease in the fire’s advance. The local interior ministry reported 110 injuries, including nine firefighters and 22 police officers, since the fire erupted late Tuesday.

Over 400 residents have been evacuated from their homes amid safety warnings. Mayor Payan referred to the situation as a "guerrilla warfare" scenario, highlighting the uphill struggle faced by Marseille's marine firefighting battalion in combating the blaze. At its height, the wildfire spread at alarming rates of up to 1.2 kilometers per minute, driven by strong winds, thick vegetation, and challenging topography.

President Emmanuel Macron, currently on a visit to the UK, expressed solidarity with local firefighters and urged citizens to heed safety directives. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau arrived in Marseille late Tuesday to oversee local efforts, emphasizing that around 800 firefighters were actively working to contain the fire overnight as the situation remains dire.

Marseille Provence Airport announced plans to resume operations at 9:30 AM local time on Wednesday despite earlier closures. Julien Coffinier, the airport president, described the chaos as unprecedented in scale. The wildfire, initially sparked by a vehicle fire on the motorway, has burned approximately 700 hectares (1,729 acres) around the town of Pennes-Mirabeau, rendering the sky over Marseille shrouded in heavy smoke.

Across France, another wildfire near Narbonne continues to rage, exacerbated by wind speeds reaching 60 km/h (40 mph), with about 2,000 hectares already consumed. Other European regions, including Catalonia in Spain, are experiencing severe wildfires, leading to tens of thousands being advised to stay indoors. Additionally, Greece reported numerous wildfires, further linked to a toxic heatwave choking southern Europe this summer.