Red Wildfire Alert Issued in Southern France
Marseille Airport Halts All Departures and Arrivals
Wildfires Sparked by High Temperatures, Dry Weather, and Lack of Rainfall
A wildfire alert has been issued in France, which has been experiencing intense heat due to consecutive heatwaves.
According to the French daily Le Monde, on July 8 (local time), the French meteorological agency issued a red wildfire warning for three departments in the south?Var, Bouches-du-Rhone, and Vaucluse. In the morning, a large wildfire broke out in Pennes-Mirabeau in Bouches-du-Rhone, prompting the evacuation of some local residents.
Smoke is rising behind buildings due to a wildfire in the La Castellane area of Marseille. Photo by AP Yonhap News.
By around 4 p.m., the fire had spread to Marseille, France's second-largest city. Authorities sent out a general alert message instructing residents to leave forested areas immediately, stay inside safe buildings, and keep windows and doors closed.
The fire, which has so far burned 350 hectares of forest, continues to spread, carried by the Mistral?a dry regional wind that blows from southern France toward the Mediterranean. As the wildfire spread rapidly, Marseille Airport suspended all departures and arrivals shortly after noon.
Train services departing from Marseille and heading north and west were also suspended. The French National Railway Company (SNCF) evacuated its staff and is maintaining contact with fire brigades to monitor the situation.
High-speed trains departing from Paris and heading to Marseille, Nice, and Toulon were also canceled. The timing for the resumption of train services has not yet been determined. The railway authority has advised passengers to adjust their travel plans. Portions of highways 50 and 55, which pass through the affected areas, have also been closed.
Authorities have asked residents to avoid road travel as much as possible to prevent traffic congestion and to ensure the smooth movement of emergency and safety personnel. The city of Marseille has evacuated dozens of residents from the most dangerous areas. Four gymnasiums in the city have been opened as evacuation shelters in case of further emergencies.
In Aude, near Bouches-du-Rhone, a wildfire that broke out the previous day had burned a total of 2,000 hectares as of today. Around noon, strong winds of 75 km/h further spread the fire. Authorities issued evacuation orders to approximately 4,000 residents living near the wildfire area.
A wildfire broke out in a village in Tarragona province, Catalonia, Spain. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.
Spain is also battling wildfires. A wildfire that broke out the previous day near Tarragona in Catalonia burned about 3,000 hectares of forest. As a result, more than 18,000 residents in the surrounding areas were instructed to stay indoors to avoid smoke exposure.
The spread of wildfires across Europe is due to high temperatures and dry weather, as well as a lack of rainfall. A meteorologist from the French meteorological agency explained, "The rainfall deficit in June reached 69%, and the vegetation has dried out due to the heatwave that has persisted over the past few days, creating dangerous fire conditions." Spain also experienced its hottest June on record, causing the soil to dry out and increasing the risk of wildfires.
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