After many eastern Mediterranean countries, forest fires are now also raging in the south of France. Many people had to be brought to safety.
Toulon – Thousands of residents and tourists have sheltered themselves from widespread forest fires in southern France. The decreasing wind made the work of the fire brigade easier; The fires are not yet under control, said the prefecture in Toulon on Tuesday afternoon.
The midday heat caused some fires to flare up again, and nobody has yet been able to return to their accommodation. Up to 900 firefighters and 120 police officers as well as several fire-fighting planes and helicopters were in action. Twelve campsites in the region were evacuated as a precaution and numerous roads in the hinterland of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez were closed.
Six firefighters were injured during the operation, reported the broadcaster BFMTV with reference to information from the authorities, around 20 people suffered slight smoke inhalation. According to the prefecture, around 5000 hectares of land have already been burned. President Emmanuel Macron and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin plan to visit the affected region on Tuesday. The fires were preceded by a heat wave and severe drought. The fires were fanned by a strong wind. As the local fire department announced, the fire in the region has spread over a distance of 22 kilometers since it broke out.
Another fire broke out near the wine village of Beaumes de Venise in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, as the local prefecture announced. 320 firefighters as well as an airplane and a helicopter were used in the extinguishing work. 130 people were brought to safety, including 13 tourists from Belgium and one from Germany. People were therefore not harmed, and the flames could be prevented from spreading to the buildings. dpa
