France wildfire shuts down airport

A WILDFIRE in southern France this week that forced Marseille airport to close and interrupted train traffic has not been fully contained, the country's interior minister said.

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Several forest fires have raged in recent days in southern France, fanning out at speed due to wind and parched vegetation after a heatwave, including Tuesday’s just north of France's second largest city, Marseille.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, during evening visit to firefighters in the region, said the fire could be contained overnight if winds weaken, as expected.

Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the intensity, length and frequency of extreme heat that fuels forest fires.

The fire started in a vehicle in the area of Pennes-Mirabeau to the north of Marseille, on the road to the airport, roaring across 700 hectares by the evening, firefighters said.