Fires continue in several places in southern France

TT

Published 07.47

 

There are still fires in several places in southern France. Photo: French Fire Service/AP/TT

The forest and land fires that have hit southern France in recent days continue. According to Franceinfo, there are a total of 30 fires in different places.

In the department of Gard in the Mediterranean area, three fires are raging and in the municipality of Canet-en-Roussillon just north of the Spanish border, there is “major damage,” writes BFMTV.

In six departments around the Mediterranean, a red alert has been issued, as the risk of forest fires is “very high”. According to information to Franceinfo, there are fires in around 30 places and 2,000 firefighters are working to put them out.

On Thursday, around 3,000 people were evacuated after a fire broke out at a campsite in the town of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, in southwestern France. Dozens of caravans and motorhomes were destroyed before the fire spread.

France: More deaths after heat wave

Following the heat wave in June, France has recorded a significant excess mortality in the population.

The country's Health Minister, Stéphanie Rist, tells TF1 that at least 2,025 more deaths than normal have been registered, but that the full number will not be able to be determined for several weeks.

Already on Sunday, the French public health authority announced that around 1,000 more deaths had been registered in June than in comparable months earlier.

The heat held a tight grip on the country for about ten days in June. Several heat records were recorded.