Firefighters in France continue to fight a wildfire that reached the outer edge of the city of Marseille and has left over 100 people injured.
Benoit Payan, Mayor of Marseille, told local media on Wednesday morning that the blaze was “decreasing”, however, was still not totally under control.
The restrictions which were imposed on Tuesday in the outskirts of the city have been lifted after a “significant decline” in the spread of the fire, the mayor wrote on X.
110 people have sustained slight injuries – encompassing nine firefighters and 22 police officers – since Tuesday, the Ministry of Interior disclosed.
French media reports, at least 400 people have been evacuated from their homes.
Earlier, residents had been advised to stay indoors and warned not to evacuate unless they were instructed to, so the roads would be clear for emergency vehicles.
At its highest, the fire spread at a rate of 1.2km (0.7 miles) per hour, Mayor Payan said, according to French broadcaster BFMTV. He said the wildfire was caused by a combination of wind gusts, dense vegetation, and steep slopes.
President of France, Emmanuel Macron, expressed his “thoughts” to the injured and support for the firefighters.
The French President wrote on X: “Our thoughts are with the injured and all residents.”
President Macron alongside his wife, Mrs Macron, are on a State visit to the United Kingdom (UK); France and the United Kingdom (UK) are expected to discussed on “major challenges” facing Europa such as defence, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy and others in the Franco-British Summit.
Photo: People look on near the Plage des Corbieres, in Marseille, southern France on July 8, 2025, as a smoke from a wildfire rages in the background. Clement Mahoudeau/AFP/Getty Images
