‘Apocalyptic’ scenes in southern France as wildfires force 10,000 to be evacuated (PHOTOS)
Thousands of people including holidaymakers have been evacuated in southern France as massive wildfires rage across the French Riviera and Corsica. Locals and authorities say the areas affected by the fires resemble “apocalyptic scenes.”
"The evacuations, at least 10,000, followed the progression of the fire. It's an area that doubles or triples its population in summer," a fire service official told AFP near the Bormes-les-Mimosas commune in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeast France.
At least 3,000 of those evacuated were holidaymakers, the official added.
#Incendie Bormes les Mimosas. Jour levé. Le feu continue de progresser entre le Cap Benat et le fort de Bregancon. #feudeforetpic.twitter.com/bNT7JbZJcH
— Olivier Hertel (@OlivierHertel) July 26, 2017
“All of France is mobilized,” the head of the fire service in southeast France, Colonel Gregory Allione, told France Info.
#Incendie#Biguglia Point de situation et retour en images ➡️ https://t.co/p01Wsg7YFqpic.twitter.com/f9VH5Nqsel
— Préfet Haute-Corse (@Prefet2B) July 26, 2017
On Tuesday, 23 water bombers, including 12 Canadair planes, and 11 helicopters were mobilized to battle the fires, the Interior Ministry wrote on Twitter. Some 4,000 firefighters were deployed across the country, Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said.
About 20 firefighters and police officers were injured while battling the flames, according to reports in local media.
En route pour #Bormes et #LaLonde où un #incendie a démarré cette nuit. 800 hectares brûlés, 10.000 personnes évacuées. #varpic.twitter.com/oPgfzgZZUh
— Marc Giraud (@marcgiraud83) July 26, 2017
A fire in La Croix-Valmer, an affluent and popular Saint-Tropez resort, destroyed 500 hectares of land, as cited by France Bleu newspaper.
Carte des feux de forêts dans le sud-est de la France #AFP par @AFPgraphicspic.twitter.com/VyY6cn1ds1
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) July 26, 2017
“It's an ecological catastrophe. It's a disaster area. There's nothing left,” La Croix-Valmer's deputy mayor, Rene Carandante, said when describing the scene.
Charles Scibetta, mayor of the town of Carros, near the resort city of Nice, told France Info that the town now resembles a "lunar landscape."
24/07 20h #Feu#Var#Incendie en cours #LaCroixValmer, les mas de Gigaro.
— Sapeurs Pompiers VAR (@SDIS83) July 24, 2017
Merci d'éviter le secteur et de faciliter le passage des secours. pic.twitter.com/oko8xr7WrC
The island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea was also engulfed by the blaze, with one resident describing to AFP the “apocalyptic” scenes. The wildfires affected some 1,800 hectares of forest, authorities in the city of Biguglia in Corsica said.
Impressionnante évolution. Bravo aux pompiers qui ont sauvés une grande partie des habitations. Nos héros. Soutien aux sinistrés #Carrospic.twitter.com/xOK4G2NQea
— Fʀᴀɴᴄᴋ 💫 (@frankmaxx) July 24, 2017
#Carro à #Martigues le feu est traité sur ses flancs après une lutte acharnée à l'avant en protection habitations pic.twitter.com/PO2SPOxf6q
— Pompiers 13 (@SDIS13) July 26, 2017
#Incendie Gaou, Cap Benat, Bormes les Mimosas. Évacuation. Nuit sur la plage. #feudeforetpic.twitter.com/RkaedroO81
— Olivier Hertel (@OlivierHertel) July 26, 2017
#incendie 7h20 largages Tracker au dessus du Gaou/Cap Benat à Bormes les Mimosas. Vent environ 15-25 nœuds pic.twitter.com/vC7pG48tm7
— Olivier Hertel (@OlivierHertel) July 26, 2017