France: two dead in a gigantic fire on the Côte d'Azur
A fire truck drives past a major fire near Le Luc, PACA, August 18, 2021. AP
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The fire raging in the hinterland of Saint-Tropez has claimed two victims, the authorities announced on Wednesday August 18.
The disaster, which broke out on Monday, covered 6,375 hectares.
And the 1,200 firefighters mobilized are struggling to control it in a region provided with forests.
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The biggest fire of the summer in France sowed death in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Two people died, including "
at least one man,
" said Evence Richard, the prefect of Var, in a press conference given on Wednesday. A charred body was discovered in Grimaud, a village in the Massif des Maures (Var). Prosecutor Patrice Camberou indicated that "the accommodation was completely destroyed by fire" and that there is "
no element
" allowing "
to indicate whether it is a man or a woman
".
The fire that broke out on Monday is still raging in the hinterland of Saint-Tropez, one of the most touristic areas in France. The incident started in a motorway rest area. It has since covered 6,375 hectares according to the firefighters. The region is full of forests, and with "
extremely changeable
"
winds
, in the words of Prefect Evence Richard, the fire is difficult to contain, especially as some areas are difficult to access.
Nearly 1,200 firefighters battled the flames.
In addition to the two deceased victims, 24 people were also slightly injured, including five firefighters.
Prefect Richard has "
some hopes that, during the next night, things will calm down
".
But he and the authorities have "
no certainty
" and thus remain very vigilant.
Several thousand people have already had to be evacuated.
Many have lost everything, and the damage to the environment is significant.
Elsewhere, fires are also raging in the Mediterranean basin.
This is particularly the case in
Portugal
,
Algeria
,
Greece
,
Turkey
and
Israel
.
Faced with these #FeuxDeForêt, the Civil Security forces anticipate, organize and fight relentlessly to protect people, property and the environment.
Nearly 900 firefighters from 1⃣6⃣ reinforcement columns from across the 🇫🇷 are helping out in the South.
pic.twitter.com/WAtK1g3dY7
- Civil Security (@SecCivileFrance) August 18, 2021
We wonder what is happening to us.
There are no words.
Really, it is very touching.
In the Vaucluse, the dismay of the inhabitants in the face of the deadly fire
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