Wildfire Near Marseille Closes Airport, Prompts Evacuations

A fast-moving wildfire near Les Pennes-Mirabeau has forced the closure of Marseille Provence Airport, causing widespread flight cancellations and significant transport disruptions during peak travel season. The fire, driven by strong winds and a heatwave, has reached the outskirts of Marseille, particularly threatening the 16th arrondissement. Over 1,000 firefighters and emergency teams, including the French Navy, have been deployed as more than 700 hectares have burned, damaging buildings and injuring at least 13 people, including nine firefighters. Authorities have evacuated thousands of residents and set up emergency shelters as the situation remains critical. Several major roads and train lines were closed temporarily, compounding the impact on travel in southern France. The region remains under a red warning for forest fires due to extreme heat and dry conditions.