400 people were evacuated in southern France due to a massive fire — Reuters
In the Var department in southern France, a large-scale wildfire has forced about 400 people to evacuate their homes. Emergency responders continue to battle the fire, which is spreading rapidly due to the heat and strong winds.
According to reports, the fire has already destroyed 2,500 hectares since July 21. Most of the 400 evacuees are residents of the areas surrounding the villages of Ponteves, Cotignac, Sillan-la-Cascade, Correns, and Montfort-sur-Argen.
“The situation was very difficult. About 1,100 firefighters battled the blaze all night,” said William Vogl, a spokesperson for the Var department’s fire service.
According to him, as of Wednesday morning, the fire had not yet been contained. At the same time, he noted that the wind was expected to be “more favorable” on Wednesday, despite high temperatures.
The Var department’s prefecture reported that on July 22, 2,300 households were left without power, mainly in the village of Cotignac, Reuters reports.
As a reminder, two firefighters died in France while battling a massive wildfire.
The European Union has dispatched specialized firefighting aircraft to assist France and Portugal.
In southern France, 150 local residents were evacuated due to a massive wildfire that was spreading rapidly in the Var region. More than 600 firefighters, amphibious aircraft, and helicopters were deployed to extinguish the blaze.
