Marseille Airport Paralyzed: Wildfires Force Flight Cancellations and Chaos in Southern France

The fires that have ravaged southern France, and have led to the closure of Marseille airport, are forcing Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to cancel a flight to Marseille. "Due to a fire near Marseille airport, flight AT732 Casablanca/Marseille is temporarily suspended. Reopening of the runways expected after 6:00 pm UTC," it said in a post on its X account.

The fires, which broke out a few kilometers from the airport, spread quickly. Despite the presence of more than 1,000 firefighters and water bombers, the situation remains critical. It is also exacerbated by strong winds that are fueling the flames. According to the firefighters, more than 30 hectares have already been ravaged by the fire.

Closed on Monday due to the fires, the A9 motorway, which connects France to Spain, finally reopened to traffic in the afternoon of Tuesday. The authorities are calling for vigilance in the areas affected by the fires and are encouraging residents to follow the safety instructions and stay informed of the developments of the situation.