Wildfire Marseille airport to shut down, flights suspended

PARIS -- A rapidly spreading wildfire driven by winds of up to 70 km per hour has forced Marseille Provence airport in the south of France to shut down and suspend all flights, local authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

According to the fire service, the blaze began near Les Pennes Mirabeau, north of Marseille, and has now affected approximately 30 hectares of land. A total of 168 firefighters, 68 fire engines and two helicopters have been deployed to bring the fire under control.

The regional authorities of Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur issued urgent safety instructions on the social media platform X, with residents urged to stay indoors, close shutters and doors, keep routes clear for the emergency services, and refrain from unnecessary travel in affected areas.

Flight operations at Marseille airport were suspended around midday, with many services diverted to other regional hubs. No timeline has yet been provided for reopening the airport in Marseille.

Meanwhile, near Narbonne in the southwest of France, another major wildfire has consumed around 2,000 hectares since Monday.