On Tuesday, July 8, a sudden forest fire broke out in the southern suburb of Marseille, France, spreading rapidly under strong winds and burning over 700 hectares of forest land, causing over a hundred injuries. Marseille Provence Airport was temporarily closed, with multiple flights being cancelled or diverted.
According to media reports, the fire erupted earlier on Tuesday in Les Pennes-Mirabeau near Marseille, the second largest city in France. Due to the strong winds reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, the fire quickly expanded towards the northern part of Marseille.
Local authorities mentioned that the massive fire was suspected to have been caused by a car fire on the A552 highway, though the exact cause of the vehicle fire is still under investigation.
The highway where the car fire occurred leads to Marseille Provence Airport, forcing the international airport to close its runway in the afternoon, partially resuming operations only in the evening. A total of 54 flights were cancelled, with 14 flights diverted to other airports.
The French state-owned railway company stated that rail traffic was severely disrupted, with over ten passenger trains cancelled. The impact is expected to last until Wednesday, the 9th. Certain roads in Marseille were also closed due to the wildfire.
As of Tuesday night, the affected area exceeded 700 hectares. Around 800 firefighters and 220 pieces of equipment were deployed to extinguish the fire, aided by helicopters and firefighting aircraft. The situation has been mostly under control, but not completely extinguished. Approximately 450 residents were evacuated.
According to official estimates, no fatalities were reported from the fire, but around 110 people sustained minor injuries, including at least nine firefighters. Additionally, 20 houses were destroyed by the fire.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau arrived in Marseille that evening and met with local officials. French President Macron expressed his gratitude to the frontline firefighters and emergency personnel through social media, urging the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with fire prevention measures.
The Bouches-du-Rhône Fire Department, to which Marseille belongs, issued a safety notice instructing residents near the fire site to stay home, avoid obstructing rescue vehicles, and close doors and windows to prevent smoke inhalation.
This is the second major forest fire to occur in southern France this week. The meteorological department has warned of a high fire risk along the Mediterranean coast due to the combination of high temperatures, dry conditions, and strong winds.