Fires in southern France under control, say emergency workers
Huge fires that forced mass evacuations of areas of southern France have been brought largely under control, firefighters have said, although they warned new blazes were still starting, the Guardian reported.
In the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, located near beaches popular with tourists on the Cote d’Azur, “the fire is not completely under control but we are winning the fight”, said Lt Col Michael Bernier, the civil security officer leading the emergency effort there.
Around 10,000 holidaymakers and residents were forced to flee to the safety of public shelters overnight on Tuesday as flames swept towards campsites. Some holidaymakers took refuge on beaches.
The French prime minister, Edouard Philippe, visited an accommodation centre for evacuees in Bormes-les-Mimosas on Wednesday evening.
The source reminds, that more than 6,000 firefighters, troops and civil security officials are involved in efforts to put out the flames, backed by 19 planes that drop containers of water on the flaming trees and bushes. More than 7,000 hectares of vegetation have been burned.