in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Martigues and Arles are threatened by the flames

A few meters from the houses, a cloud of smoke extends to the gates of Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône), Thursday July 7. The blaze devours the vegetation and threatens the city. The inhabitants observe, from their windows, the incessant ballet of the Canadairs, which drop water to try to contain the fire.

On the ground, the firefighters are multiplying to curb the flames, especially in a pine forest, where sparks could restart the fire at any time, fanned by the violent mistral. All of the Bouches-du-Rhône department is on alert. The first fires started in Arles on Thursday around noon. The authorities had to close a national road and evacuate a nearby industrial area.

But right next to it, houses burned down. In one of them, the firefighters could not do anything. After trying to save her, they had no choice but to abandon this house, in front of the owner, who did not realize the extent of the disaster. “It’s not possible, it’s unbelievable“, sighs the man, stunned, who claims to have built his house in 1969.