Wildfires in southern France brought ‘under control’

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.

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.

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.

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.