Reuters
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On Tuesday, he arrived outside of Marseille, France’s second largest city, and a fast-traveling wildfire arrived on Tuesday, closing the airport, and residents were told to stay indoors and close to ensure all openings are safe from smoke.
The flames covered in winds at 70km/h can smell in the heart of Marseille, residents said as clouds of smoke floated over the city.
“It’s very impressive – it’s apocalyptic,” said Monique Byrade, a resident of Lepens Mirabeau, a town north of Marseille, where the fire that is currently burning at around 350 hectares.
Wildfires, which have become more destructive in Mediterranean countries in recent years due to climate change, have also been raging in northeastern Spain.
Last week there were fires in Crete and Athens, Greece.
As the fire spread, residents of the 16th arrondissement of Marseille, adjacent to Lens Mirabeau, were also instructed by the province to maintain close doors and shutters and place damp cloth in the openings, with the province in place.
“The fire that began at Penne Mirabeau is now located at the gates of Marseille,” Mayor Benoit Payan said in X.
One bank worker who reached the phone said, “The sky is gray with ash and the smell of fire is very strong in the heart of Marseille.”
Residents were told to keep the roads free for rescue services so they would not evacuate unless ordered.
“At this stage, the population must remain trapped,” the province of Provence Alpes Alpes da Azur posted on X.
Local firefighters said at X that 168 firefighters were deployed to fight the flames. Fire engines and helicopters were also used.
A spokesman for France’s fourth busiest airport, Marseille, said the plane had not taken off or landed since around noon, and some flights had been decoupled to Nice, Nimes and other regional airports. It was unclear when the airport would reopen.
According to SNCF train operators, the train lines north and west from Marseille were stopped due to a fire near the tracks.
Meanwhile, the wildfire that began near Narbonne in southwestern France was still active on Monday, when it was fanned by winds of 60 km/h.
According to the local prefecture, approximately 2,000 hectares are on fire.
