Bruno Retailleau

A fast-moving wildfire on the outskirts of France’s second-largest city, Marseille, has destroyed homes and forced hundreds of people to evacuate, as a heatwave and dangerous fire conditions grip the Mediterranean. Interior minister Bruno Retailleau said the fire around Marseille could be contained overnight if the gale-force winds fanning the flames weaken, as expected. So far, 400 people had been evacuated, around a dozen houses destroyed and 63 others damaged, Retailleau said. …“But there are all the reasons to think we are headed towards a summer of high risk.” Local media reported that the cause appeared to have been a vehicle that caught fire on the A552 motorway. …City hall said 720 firefighters, including dozens from neighbouring departments, were battling the blaze with 220 emergency vehicles, helped by helicopters and water-bombing planes. About 350 hectares of land had been consumed by late afternoon.

Additional coverage from the BBC: More than 100 hurt as efforts to contain Marseille wildfire continue