Wildfires Shut Marseille Airport, Burn Thousands of Hectares

Devastating wildfires in southern France and Spain have led to major disruptions and extensive environmental damage, with Marseille Airport forced to shut down and more than 5,000 hectares of land scorched across the region.

As extreme summer heat continues to fuel fast-moving blazes, authorities across Europe are on high alert.

In southern France, a wildfire erupted near the town of Vitrolles, prompting officials to close Marseille Provence Airport on Tuesday.

Thick smoke from the blaze blanketed the city and surrounding areas, resulting in the cancellation of at least 10 flights to destinations including Brussels, Munich, and Naples. Departures and arrivals were suspended from around noon, with some flights diverted to alternative airports in Nice, Nîmes, and other regional hubs.

Marseille’s airport, the fourth busiest in France, remained closed into the evening as fire crews battled the flames. Despite a rapid response by 600 firefighters and 10 aircraft, including four Canadair water bombers, the fire spread rapidly, driven by strong winds and dry vegetation. Flames reached up to 30 meters high, tearing through pine forests and threatening nearby towns such as Narbonne, Bages, and Peyriac-de-Mer.

The Aude department, along with Var and Bouches-du-Rhône, has been placed on maximum alert due to the escalating fire threat.

Meanwhile, in Spain, wildfires ravaged around 3,000 hectares of woodland in the Els Ports Natural Park near Paüls, Tarragona. The blaze, which broke out on Monday, intensified under record-breaking temperatures and bone-dry conditions. Spanish authorities urged nearly 18,000 residents in nearby areas to remain indoors to ensure their safety as firefighters battled to contain the spread.

Elsewhere in Europe, Germany has also raised its alert level following a massive forest fire in the Saalfeld highlands of Thuringia.

The blaze began near the village of Jösselsdorf last Wednesday, consuming 250 hectares of forest and prompting officials to declare a state of emergency. This fire is considered the largest of its kind in Thuringia in over three decades. More than 650 firefighters, supported by technical relief agencies and volunteers, have been involved in the containment efforts.

These simultaneous wildfires underscore the growing impact of climate-related extreme weather events across Europe, with rising temperatures, strong winds, and prolonged drought conditions creating a perfect storm for fire outbreaks. Authorities across the continent are warning that the worst may still be ahead as the summer heatwave continues.