The fire spread rapidly, fanned by strong winds
MARSEILLE (France), Aug 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A forest fire ravaged 800 hectares of vegetation near the southern French city of Marseille, forcing the evacuation of over 200 people, officials said.
There were no casualties thus far from the Tuesday blaze that broke out west of Marseille, as 1,200 firefighters and water bombing planes were deployed to fight the flames.
Some 225 people, mostly tourists and campers, were evacuated by boat to a nearby fishing village and then taken by bus to makeshift shelters in the town of Martigues.
“We are braced for a difficult fight throughout the night,” said a spokesman for the firefighting service in the Bouches du Rhone department.
The fire broke out in the afternoon, sending out plumes of black smoke. It crossed eight kilometres in two hours, fanned by strong winds, the firefighting service said.
Seven water-dumping planes and a number of helicopters and other aircraft were deployed to back up 1,200 firefighters, officials said.
Part of a highway from Marseille to Martigues has been closed. — NNN-AGENCIES
