Southern France is in the grip of a major wildfire emergency, with approximately 2,000 firefighters deployed across multiple fronts as strong winds fan flames along the Mediterranean coastline.
The country is facing prolonged drought conditions in the aftermath of the recent heatwave that affected much of Europe, creating highly combustible conditions across large areas.
Television footage from the town of Canet-en-Roussillon, near the Spanish border, showed warehouses and a yacht engulfed in flames at a marina, while thick black smoke blanketed the beach and surrounding area.
According to local authorities, around 1,500 people were evacuated as a precaution from campsites in the town, while operations at nearby Perpignan Airport were suspended.
Fires continue despite progress near Marseille
Earlier, firefighting crews succeeded in bringing two wildfires on the outskirts of Marseille under control.
However, efforts continue in the Aude department, where a larger and particularly dangerous wildfire remains active.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu took part in a crisis-management meeting in Marseille as his minority government faces a no-confidence motion related to its handling of the recent heatwave.
Fears of more fires as new heatwave looms
At the same time, France's national meteorological service has warned that a new period of extreme temperatures is expected to hit the country next week, heightening fears of further wildfires.
The French prime minister said that a total of 87,000 hectares of land have been destroyed since the start of the wildfire season, including 12,000 hectares that burned during yesterday alone.
