Marseille wildfire burns 700 hectares, over 100 injured, airport shut as heatwave scorches France

Amid the heatwave gripping the Mediterranean, a fast-moving wildfire has injured more than 100 people and forced hundreds to evacuate near Marseille, France's second-largest city. The blaze reached the city’s northern outskirts on Tuesday, July 8, and disrupted several essential services. Marseille Provence Airport shut down operations for several hours, canceling departures to cities like Brussels and Munich.

The fire, which broke out near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of the city, reportedly covered about 700 hectares (7 sq km).

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said around 800 firefighters were battling the blaze, with efforts continuing through the night. The fire spread rapidly at one point, advancing 1.2 km per minute due to strong winds, dry vegetation, and steep terrain.

What caused the wildfire in France?

The fire was likely sparked by a car that caught fire on the A552 motorway. In addition, France’s Bouches-du-Rhône region had not seen rainfall since May 19.

Authorities have evacuated around 450 residents. At least 20 houses were destroyed and over 60 were damaged. Nine firefighters and several residents were hospitalized, mostly due to smoke inhalation.

Residents were told to stay indoors unless instructed to evacuate. Mobile alerts advised people to close doors and windows, hang wet cloth near openings, and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.

City services affected

Incoming flights to the Marseille airports were redirected to nearby airports. Train routes and bus services were suspended, and major roads and tunnels were closed.

A major hospital in the north of the city shifted to backup generators as a precaution.

On a state visit to the UK, President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for emergency crews and urged citizens to follow safety guidelines.

Marseille’s mayor, Benoît Payan, praised the efforts of firefighters and described the situation as "guerrilla warfare."

Fires spread across southern Europe

Elsewhere in France, a wildfire near Narbonne burned over 2,000 hectares. In northeastern Spain, a blaze in Tarragona forced 18,000 people to stay indoors, with over 3,000 hectares already scorched. Spain, experiencing its hottest June on record, remains on high alert for wildfires.

In Greece, 41 wildfires broke out on Monday alone. Syria, also battling large forest fires, has requested EU assistance.