‘Apocalypse’ fires RAGE across France and Corsica sparking evacuation in tourist hotspots
WILDFIRES have ravaged parts of France and the island of Corsica as hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes in prime holiday hotspots and more than 3,000 hectares of land has been destroyed.
By ZOIE O’BRIEN AND LAURA MOWAT
Express.co.uk
Tue, Jul 25, 2017
The fires overnight caused chaos in southern France, including the Var and Vaucluse areas, the town of Carros and also northern Corsica.
Desperate France has asked the European Union for help by supplying ten Canadair water bombers to battle the out of control flames.
More than 2,000 firefighters and 19 aeroplanes have been mobilised to deal with the vicious flames in the country.
Several firefighters have been injured by the fire and one has been hospitalised so far.
Actress Joan Collins was one of the victims of the fires and was forced to flee her Saint Tropez villa as the fire ripped through the glitzy South of France resort.
The 84-year-old actress wrote on Twitter: “Luckily we were able to evacuate last night, not easy with 11 people in the house! We are all okay.
“Thanks everybody for good wishes about our safety in fire, all seems ok although fire still burning started by BBQ.”
One fire near the Croix Valmer resort and the yacht-filled marinas of Saint-Tropez, sent clouds of thick smoke into azure skies within view of busy beaches.
Authorities said that blaze had engulfed 650 hectares of land in one of several spots where fires prompted closure of parts of the local road network, a rail line and at one stage part of the A51 motorway in the southeastern corner of France.
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