Tourists have described harrowing scenes of ash falling from the sky as they fled wildfires that swept through southern France, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from campsites and villages.
The fires, fanned by strong winds and high temperatures, broke out in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, consuming thousands of hectares of forest and scrubland. Witnesses recounted a frantic scramble to safety as flames approached holiday accommodations.
Escape from the flames
One tourist said they saw the sky turn orange and thick smoke billowing overhead, making breathing difficult. Another described leaving behind belongings as they drove through burning roadside vegetation. Authorities deployed hundreds of firefighters and water-dropping aircraft to battle the blazes.
Local officials reported that several campsites were evacuated, with some tourists spending the night in emergency shelters. The cause of the fires is under investigation, but dry conditions and heatwaves have been cited as contributing factors.
