AROUND 700 firefighters backed by aircraft were today battling a massive blaze in France’s southern Gard region that had already burned 600ha overnight.

The operation “is continuing, but the fire is advancing more slowly and fortunately, is no longer threatening any homes”, a spokesman for the local fire service told AFP early today, adding that several fire fronts remained “inaccessible”.

Two Milan firefighting planes resumed dumping water on the blaze from early in the morning, the spokesman said.

People in the hamlet of Bordezac and other small settlements in the Besseges area were evacuated yesterday evening, with the local prefect’s office saying around 100 had to be put up for the night.

Firefighters were drawn from neighbouring regions to battle the flames yesterday while 12 firefighting planes and two helicopters were also deployed.

The fire service said thousands of hectares of heavily wooded land were under threat as strong winds fanned the flames through the dried-out trees.

Although several other fires began in the region yesterday, most were put out before nightfall. – AFP, July 8, 2022.