NNA – French firefighters are battling to contain a large wildfire in the southern region of Var that has forced the evacuation of thousands of people, including tourists in campsites. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said he would visit the area Tuesday to monitor the situation.
Around 750 firefighters and water-droppping aircraft were battling the blaze in difficult conditions, with high temperatures and strong winds.
“Thousands of people have been evacuated as a precautionary measure, but there are no victims,” a fire service spokeswoman, Delphine Vienco, said, adding that the blaze was “still very fierce”.
Southern France is the latest area around the Mediterranean basin to be hit by wildfires this summer, a seasonal phenomenon, which climate scientists warn will become increasingly common because of man-made global warming.
Large fires have already ravaged parts of Greece, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Algeria and Morocco.
Source: National News Agency-Lebanon