Wildfires in southern France brought ‘under control’

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French firefighters say they have tamed one of the fiercest blazes to break out during wildfires in the south east of the country.

More than 12,000 people, including thousands of holidaymakers, were evacuated after a new wildfire broke out in southern France, which was already battling massive fires, authorities said Wednesday.

The new fire broke out a day after France asked for Europe’s help to tackle the flames already raging in several areas in the southern part of the country, including near the popular tourist destination, Saint-Tropez.

An aerial view taken on July 25, 2017 shows the fire devastated landscape in Biguglia, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. /AFP Photo

Firefighters are also battling fires on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica and in Portugal.

About 3,000 evacuees in southeast France were holidaymakers staying on campgrounds, some of whom ended up now spending the night in sleeping bags on the beach.

“The evacuations, at least 10,000, followed the progression of the fire. It’s an area that doubles or triples its population in summer,” said a fire service official near Bormes-les-Mimosas on the Mediterranean coast.

Tourists, who were evacuated due to a forest fire, rest on mats and cots and eat a meal in a gymnasium in Bormes-les-Mimosas, in the Var department, France, July 26, 2017. /Reuters Photo‍

The number of people on France’s Cote d’Azur surges in July and August as holidaymakers head to the beach, although the area is experiencing an exceptionally hot and dry summer that has made it especially vulnerable to fires.

On Tuesday over 4,000 firefighters and troops backed by 19 water bombers were mobilized to extinguish the flames, which have left swathes of charred earth in their wake.

At least 12 firefighters have been injured and 15 police officers affected by smoke inhalation since the fires broke out on Monday, according to the authorities.

By Tuesday the fires had destroyed around 4,000 hectares (15 square miles) of land along the Mediterranean coast, in the mountainous interior and on Corsica.

A woman and her daughter walk near leisure boats in a port as a plume of smoke from burning fires fills the sky in Bormes-les-Mimosas, in the Var department, France, July 26, 2017. /Reuters Photo

With strong winds and dry brush creating a dangerous mix, the government asked its European Union partners to send two extra fire-fighting planes — a request immediately fulfilled by Italy, according to the EU.

But one union official denounced what he said was a lack of spare parts preventing all the aircraft required from being put into action.

Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced on Tuesday that France would be adding six more firefighting planes to its fleet.

(Source: AFP)