Holidaymakers forced to flee French forest fire
Thousands of campers evacuated as new blaze breaks out close to St Tropez
France is evacuating 10,000 people as a wildfire rips through the southern coast during the height of the tourist season.
Firefighting planes are dropping water on a new blaze on the Mediterranean coast which has left tourists stranded on the beaches, Sky News reports.
British holidaymakers were told to leave campsites in La Londe, La Lavandou and Borme-les-Mimosas, near the popular resort of St Tropez, in the early hours of this morning. Many headed down to the beach to wait for help.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We could see the flames just behind the campsite and we were told to evacuate right down on to the beach," Lisa Minot, travel editor of The Sun, told Sky News. "It's utter chaos, there are no provisions or anything else... There's no one telling us what to do."
Actor Dame Joan Collins also had to flee her villa in the area, says the Daily Mail.
Areas affected include the Var and Vaucluse areas, the town of Carros, north of Nice, and northern Corsica. The Guardian says many of those evacuated are locals who sheltered in gymnasiums and slept on mattresses on the floor last night.
More than 500 firefighters are tackling the blaze and France has requested EU help, says the Daily Express. More than 2,000 firefighters and 19 aeroplanes have been mobilised.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The hidden cost of lead exposure on American mental health
Under The Radar Millions of mental health diagnoses have been linked to childhood lead exposure in new study
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
What exactly are tariffs and how do they work?
The explainer Refresh your understanding ahead of Donald Trump's promise to levy heavy tariffs once he's back in office
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Sudoku medium: December 11, 2024
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published
-
The nuclear threat: is Vladimir Putin bluffing?
Talking Point Kremlin's newest ballistic missile has some worried for Nato nations
By The Week UK Published
-
Russia vows retaliation for Ukrainian missile strikes
Speed Read Ukraine's forces have been using U.S.-supplied, long-range ATCMS missiles to hit Russia
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published