-France wildfires: Dozens injured and thousands evacuated as blaze sweeps across Marseille region
Around 1,800 firefighters supported by planes and helicopters battled worse fire throughout night
Wildfires have torn through several towns near Marseille in France, leaving at least 22 people injured and forcing the evacuation of 2,700 people.
Around 1,800 firefighters supported by planes and helicopters battled the worst fire through the night around the town of Martigues.
They were still working to extinguish the blaze on Wednesday, more than 14 hours after it broke out on Tuesday, according to the local fire service.
Flames fuelled by strong Mediterranean winds spread quickly from a wooded area towards the sea, which lies 8km away, ripping through residential areas and several campgrounds.
Firefighters rushed to evacuate campers via land and sea.
Eight civilians and 14 firefighters suffered minor injuries in the Martigues blaze and five others that erupted in the area on Tuesday, the fire service said.
The fire also destroyed several businesses and led to the evacuation of nursing home residents and others at risk.
Other fires in the towns of Port-de-Bouc, Aubagne-Carnoux, Gignac-la-Nerthe and Fontvieille were brought under control.
The cause of the fire is yet unknown.
Authorities have banned any controlled fires in the area or construction work involving sparks or hot equipment until the fires are extinguished, as winds continued on Wednesday morning and the weather across France is currently dry and hot.
Additional reporting by AP
Thousands rescued from destructive
forest fires in southern France
The fires have ravaged about 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of vegetation are threatening residential areas and campsites near the coast
Martigues (France) (AFP) - Almost 3,000 people were evacuated Tuesday night, some by boat, from homes and camping sites near Marseille in southern France as forest fires tore through 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of vegetation.
About 1,800 firefighters battled blazes fanned by strong winds overnight and 14 sustained light injuries, officials said. No civilians were hurt.
The occupants of an old people's home and other locals, as well as tourists from France and abroad, had to be rescued as flames devoured the Blue Coast -- a pine tree-lined area between Marseille and Martigues on the Mediterranean shore.
Homes and eight campsites near Martigues, where the fire started, and Sausset-les-Pins were evacuated "as a preventative measure", the fire service said.
Some people had to be saved by sea from camping sites and beaches.
"It was an exceptional fire, unheard of: it was advancing at the speed of a tornado," said firefighter Jean-Eric Lepine, his eyes reddened by fatigue.
"Every three minutes, there were gas explosions because of the bottles installed in the bungalows," he said. "Fortunately, the fire did not cause any casualties and we were able to save about 15 houses".
"It is like a movie set," said Parisian Luisa Amoura, contemplating the blackened carcass of her mobile home, devoured by flames which reduced the Lou Cigalou caravan park to a graveyard of scarred trees, burnt-out bungalows and cars.
- 'It was panic' -
The site next door, Tamaris, was similarly burnt to the ground.
Amoura recounted that "people were packing bags in a panic... we climbed some rocks near the beach to take refuge."
In hot, dry summer conditions, the fires broke out late Tuesday afternoon, and spread quickly, fanned by the wind -- up to eight kilometres (five miles) in two hours, firefighters said.
"There was panic, we had to go down to the beach and we could see the flames coming closer," said Maryse Escuder, 83, who was on vacation with her family and great-grandchildren at the La Source campsite.