Marseille airport wildfire: All flights grounded and holidays ruined

10 mins ago18:05 Sarah Barltrop

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2 hours ago15:54 Sarah Barltrop

The 6.05pm London Heathrow flight with BA has been cancelled, according to Flight Radar.

The easyJet flight at 9.40pm to London Gatwick is still scheduled at the correct time, and so is the 9.45pm London Heathrow flight with BA.

The Ryanair flight at 11.25 appears to be delayed until 11.40pm.

3 hours ago15:10 Sarah Barltrop

A video sent to The Express by Olivier Gary, who works in Marseille, shows the view from Le Vieux Port.

At first you can see huge plumes of grey smoke in the distance billowing over the horizon.

The video then pans skyward, and yellow smoke completely blocks the blue sky.

Views from Le Vieux Port in Marseille

3 hours ago14:58 Sarah Barltrop

All arrival flights since 1.35pm have been delayed into Marseille airport, according to its website.

At present, a British Airways flight from London Heathrow due to land at 3pm is showing as 'on time'.

The Ryanair flight from London Stansted at 4.15pm is currently showing as delayed, and the 5pm BA flight from London Heathrow is cancelled.

The 9pm London Heathrow flight from BA is 'on time' according to the website.

3 hours ago14:54 Sarah Barltrop

Olivier Gary, 24, who works in Marseille said: "It’s crazy yellow skies and 'la bonne mere' is covered in smoke."

'La bonne mere' is the nickname given to the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Marseille, meaning 'the good mother' in French.

A photo shared on X shows the fire raging over the skies.

Views from Marseille airport (Image: X @RJduGhetto)

4 hours ago14:35 Sarah Barltrop

Videos shared online show thick, dusty smoke billowing across the sky near Marseille airport, which has caused all flights to be grounded.

Emergency services have asked everyone to clear the way.

Marseille: Smoke billows from large fire near airport

4 hours ago14:26 Sarah Barltrop

The fast-moving fire was reportedly fanned by winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour, which led to the closure of Marseille Provence airport on Tuesday, a spokesperson said.

The high winds prompted evacuations in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, BFM TV reported.

In videos shared online, the wind can be seen violently shaking the trees and carrying the smoke.

4 hours ago14:09 Sarah Barltrop

A governing body warned people to close windows and doors and not to travel.

“At this stage, populations must remain confined to residential areas,” the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur prefecture posted on X.

“Close shutters, doors, keep your property clear for emergency services, and do not travel on the roads.”

Marseille is the main prefecture and largest city of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, an administrative region in southeastern France.

The local fire service has also urged people to clear the way for the emergency services.

4 hours ago14:05 Sarah Barltrop

The Marseille fire department has confirmed 168 firefighters are in attendance and that 30 hectares have been affected in the municipality of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, about eight miles from Marseille.

It confirmed 68 vehicles have been mobilised and two helicopters are also being used.

Firefighters and vehicles from both the Pompiers 13 unit and the Marins Pompiers unit have been deployed.

Marins pompiers translates to marine firefighters, which specifically refers to the firefighters of the Marseille Naval Fire Battalion.

5 hours ago13:42 Sarah Barltrop

Planes have not been taking off or landing since around midday, reports Market Screener.

Some flights have reportedly been diverted to Nice, Nimes and other regional airports.

5 hours ago13:37 Sarah Barltrop

Billowing grey smoke fills the sky in a video shared on X of Marseille, titled 'Marseille on fire' in French.

The wind appears to be blowing a gale as the trees move violently in the foreground of the video.