A fast-spreading fire near the southern French city of Marseille injured over 100 people and forced several thousand to evacuate after emergency services were unable to gain control of flames that were spreading out of control.
Fanned by strong winds and hot dry weather, the fire broke out Monday evening in the northern hills outside Marseille and spread rapidly, consuming homes, vehicles, and large swaths of forest. Regional authorities say the fire has consumed more than 2,000 hectares and continues to burn outside of control despite efforts by over 1,200 firefighters and several water-dropping helicopters.
At least 115 have been treated for injuries ranging from burns and smoke inhalation to broken limbs. Hospitals in the area have been overwhelmed, and emergency shelters have been set up to care for displaced residents.
“This is one of the most serious wildfires in recent years,” regional official Lucie Bernard explained. “Wind and temperature joined forces to create an explosive situation.”
France’s interior minister has placed the region affected by fire in a state of emergency, and reinforcements have also been put in place across the nation. Authorities are also considering that human agency might have sparked the fire, considering there were various points of ignition.
Crews continue to work around the clock to build containment lines and protect settled regions, but officials warn that conditions will probably worsen if winds increase.
It comes after a hot summer in southern Europe, where there were forecasts by climate scientists that more frequent and severe wildfires are due to global warming.
