Latest news with #LesPennesMirabeau
Free Malaysia Today
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Free Malaysia Today
Marseille airport closed as high winds fan wildfire
Planes have not been taking off or landing since around midday at Marseille Provence airport. (AFP pic) MARSEILLE : A fast-moving wildfire in southern France, fanned by winds of up to 70kph, led to the closure of Marseille Provence airport today and was getting very close to France's second-largest city itself, officials said. The local fire service said on X that 168 firefighters had been deployed to fight the blaze of around 30 hectares near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille. Fire engines and helicopters were also being used. 'It's very striking – apocalyptic even,' Monique Baillard, a resident of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, told Reuters. She said many of her neighbours had already left, even if there were no evacuation orders, adding: 'We're staying unless the firefighters tell us to evacuate.' 'The smoke is very striking, very acrid,' said another resident, Jacqueline Revilla. 'We were ordered to stay confined via a message on our mobile phones. We're waiting for further updates for now.' Michel Amiel, the mayor of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, told BFM TV that two housing estates had been evacuated. 'At this stage, populations must remain confined to residential areas,' the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur prefecture posted on X. 'Close shutters, doors, keep your property clear for emergency services, and do not travel on the roads.' The fire could be smelled in the centre of Marseille, a resident said, with smoke covering parts of the city. 'The fire is spreading,' the Marseille municipality said on X. 'Avoid all outdoor activities and do not block emergency access routes. Follow instructions and alert messages.' A spokesman at the mayor's office for the 15th and 16th boroughs of Marseille, which border the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, said the area on the outer limits of the city was increasingly threatened by the fire, and covered in thick smoke. The spokesman said they were awaiting instructions from firefighters on whether to begin evacuations, and said residents were very concerned. As the fire was spreading, residents of the 16th borough were also instructed by the prefecture to stay home, close doors and shutters and put damp cloths on any openings. A spokesman for Marseille airport, France's fourth-busiest, said planes had not been taking off or landing since around midday and some flights had been diverted to Nice, Nimes and other regional airports. It was unclear when the airport would reopen. Meanwhile, a wildfire that started near Narbonne, in southwestern France, yesterday was still active, fanned by winds of 60kph. Some 2,000 hectares have burnt, the local prefecture said. Wildfires were also raging in northeastern Spain, where large parts of the country were on high alert for fires. Last week there were fires on the Greek island of Crete and in Athens, as much of Europe sweltered in an early summer heatwave.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Is it safe to travel to the south of France after wildfires hit Marseille?
Flights were grounded at Marseille airport on Tuesday after wildfires raged near France 's second-largest city, causing mass cancellations and disruption continuing into Wednesday. The blaze was fanned by winds of up to 70km (43 miles) per hour and could be smelled in the centre of Marseille as thick clouds of smoke descended over the coastal city, leaving at least 110 people treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries. The fire was thought to be caused by a vehicle that caught fire on the A552 motorway, local media said. It was then exacerbated by strong winds. The port city of Marseille on the Mediterranean coast is a popular southern hotspot for tourists, drawn to the historic destination for its architectural landmarks, seafood cuisine and buzzing social scene. Here's everything we know about the Marseille wildfires and the latest travel advice amid the flight chaos. Where are the wildfires? The fire broke out near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau before moving towards Marseille, with 1,000 firefighters on the scene trying to tackle the blaze. The wildfire burned through around 700 hectares near Marseille on Tuesday, with the city's mayor Benoit Payan warning that the fires reached 'the gates of' the city, prompting the airport to close and residents being ordered to stay indoors. Although the fire is still burning, authorities said it is now considered to be under control, yet a forecast of strong winds still means there is a risk it could advance. The mayor urged residents in parts of the city to "remain confined" as the blaze approached. As the fire escalated, residents in the city received alerts on their phones advising them to stay home and put damp cloths on any openings. They were told not to evacuate unless ordered to and to try and keep roads clear for emergency services. Is Marseille Airport open and will my flight be cancelled? Marseille Provence Airport temporarily shut down flight operations on Tuesday, with many flights cancelled and some being diverted to Nice, Nimes and other regional airports. On Wednesday at 9.30am, the airport resumed flight arrivals and departures. 'Disruptions are still expected. We encourage travellers to check our updated real-time list of departing and arriving flights and to contact their airline for more information,' the airport said. 'Travellers with a booking for a cancelled flight are asked not to go to the airport and to contact their airline for applicable conditions. 'Access to the airport by public transport and by car from Marseille remains disrupted; we encourage travellers to anticipate their arrival.' As of Wednesday morning, flight tracking data shows arrivals and departures still being disrupted, with many still experiencing cancellations and long delays at the airport. Cancellations on Wednesday include arrivals and departures to Tunisia, Corsica, Zurich, Paris, Istanbul and Amsterdam, to name a few. UK government advice? The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said travellers should contact their flight operator for the latest information on their journey. 'Wildfires can start anywhere in France during the summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica,' it said, pointing to a fire alert map created by the French weather service for travellers to check. 'Fires have become more frequent because of drought and high temperatures. French authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons. 'If you're staying in a high-risk area, check the local safety and emergency procedures, be vigilant and follow the advice of local authorities. 'If you are caught in, or witness, a wildfire, call the emergency services on 18 (fire) or 112 (emergency services),' it adds. See information for property owners about bush clearance, which can be mandatory in some areas. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled? As a passenger, you are covered by UK law if you are departing from an airport in the UK on any airline, arriving at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arriving at an airport in the EU on a UK airline. Airlines must provide you with care and assistance if your flight is cancelled, meaning they must supply you with food and drink (often provided in the form of vouchers), means for you to communicate (often by refunding call costs), accommodation if you are given a new flight the following day, and transport to and from the accommodation or your home. The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it, the Civil Aviation Authority says. If your cancelled flight is covered by UK law, passengers can choose between getting an alternative flight or receiving a refund if their flight is cancelled. If you received less than 14 days' notice of a cancellation, you may also be able to claim compensation. However, this is unlikely if the cancellation was not the airline's fault. Situations such as extreme weather, strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Can I cancel my holiday to the south of France? As the UK's Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to France, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund. The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it's best to contact them if you're looking to postpone. There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes. If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
BreakingNews.ie
09-07-2025
- Climate
- BreakingNews.ie
Wildfire that reached Marseilles pushed back but not extinguished
A wildfire that reached France's second-largest city and left 110 injured was pushed back overnight but had not yet been extinguished, the authorities said. Meanwhile, Marseille's mayor lifted a confinement order for tens of thousands of people. Advertisement Mayor Benoit Payan said the fire was in 'net regression' on Wednesday morning after racing towards the historic Mediterranean port city on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and the population of an entire city district to barricade themselves indoors on official orders. Spurred on by hot summer winds, the fire grounded all flights to and from Marseille and halted train traffic in most of the surrounding area on Tuesday. Train, road and plane traffic remained complicated on Wednesday. A cruise ship seen through the smoke in the port of Marseille (Lewis Joly/AP) The mayor said 110 people had been treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries. More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire, which broke out near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau before racing towards Marseille. Some 720 hectares were hit by the blaze, the local authority said. Advertisement It described the fire as 'particularly virulent'. It came on a cloudless, windy day after a lengthy heat wave around Europe left the area parched and at heightened risk for wildfires. Several wildfires have broken out in southern France in recent days, including one in the Aude region that has burned some 2,000 hectares and continued to rage on Wednesday. Light grey smoke gave the sky over Marseille's old port a dusty aspect as water-dropping planes attempted to extinguish the fire on the outskirts of the city, which has some 900,000 inhabitants.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire that reached Marseilles pushed back but not extinguished
A wildfire that reached France's second-largest city and left 110 injured was pushed back overnight but had not yet been extinguished, the authorities said. Meanwhile, Marseille's mayor lifted a confinement order for tens of thousands of people. Mayor Benoit Payan said the fire was in 'net regression' on Wednesday morning after racing towards the historic Mediterranean port city on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and the population of an entire city district to barricade themselves indoors on official orders. Spurred on by hot summer winds, the fire grounded all flights to and from Marseille and halted train traffic in most of the surrounding area on Tuesday. Train, road and plane traffic remained complicated on Wednesday. The mayor said 110 people had been treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries. More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire, which broke out near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau before racing towards Marseille. Some 720 hectares were hit by the blaze, the local authority said. It described the fire as 'particularly virulent'. It came on a cloudless, windy day after a lengthy heat wave around Europe left the area parched and at heightened risk for wildfires. Several wildfires have broken out in southern France in recent days, including one in the Aude region that has burned some 2,000 hectares and continued to rage on Wednesday. Light grey smoke gave the sky over Marseille's old port a dusty aspect as water-dropping planes attempted to extinguish the fire on the outskirts of the city, which has some 900,000 inhabitants.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
A wildfire that reached Marseille is pushed back but not extinguished
MARSEILLE: A wildfire that reached France's second-largest city and left 110 injured was pushed back overnight but was not yet extinguished Wednesday, authorities said. Marseille's mayor lifted a confinement order for tens of thousands of people. Mayor Benoit Payan said on broadcaster France-Info that the fire was in ''net regression'' Wednesday morning after racing toward the historic Mediterranean port city Tuesday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and the population of an entire city district to barricade themselves indoors on official orders. Spurred by hot summer winds, the fire grounded all flights to and from Marseille and halted train traffic in most of the surrounding area Tuesday. Train, road and plane traffic remained complicated Wednesday. The mayor said 110 people were treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries. More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire, which broke out near the town of Les Pennes-Mirabeau before racing toward Marseille. Some 720 hectares were hit by the blaze, the prefecture said. The prefecture described the fire as ''particularly virulent.″ It came on a cloudless, windy day after a lengthy heat wave around Europe left the area parched and at heightened risk for wildfires. Several have broken out in southern France in recent days, including one in the Aude region that has burned some 2,000 hectares and continued to rage Wednesday. Light gray smoke gave the sky over Marseille's old port a dusty aspect as water-dropping planes tried to extinguish the fire in the outskirts of the city, which has some 900,000 inhabitants.
