Marseille was the place to be in 2024 thanks to its vibey nightlife, lovely beaches and Mediterranean climate, but it’s also the latest Euro-summer hotspot to be affected by a scorching heatwave and subsequent wildfires.
Thanks to an area of high pressure trapping hot air from north Africa, much of southern Europe has been scorched by unseasonably high temperatures over the last couple of weeks, and the dry conditions left behind have left huge swathes of land susceptible to quick fire spread, all fanned by warm, dry winds.
On Tuesday, a wildfire broke out near France’s second city, and while it’s being contained for now, authorities are concerned the conditions could mean it re-escalates quickly. Flights, train services and roads into and out of the city remain affected.
It’s obviously worrying news if you’re headed to Marseille, so here is all the latest information about whether it’s safe for you to travel.
Recommended: Full list of holiday destinations with ‘red heat’ warnings due to Europe’s heatwave.
Where are the wildfires in Marseille?
A wildfire reached the outskirts of Marseille on Tuesday July 8, leading to the lockdown of the city’s 16th arrondissement and prompting hundreds of evacuation orders across the city as well as directives for locals to remain indoors, according to the Independent.
It’s thought that the fire has burnt through 700 hectares (which is around 7km squared), and was fanned so far due to winds of up to 70km per hour. Reports say that the burning could be smelt in central Marseille.
A separate fire also broke out near the southern French city of Narbonne, and government spokesperson Sophie Primas said that the wildfires have come earlier in the season than previous years.
Is it safe to travel?
The French fire brigade worked overnight to try and contain the blaze, and while it has been pushed back it’s yet to be fully extinguished. So far, 110 people have been treated for smoke inhalation and related injuries, and 60 houses have been affected with 10 burnt down.
All flights to and from Marseille were grounded on Tuesday, and while the airport has since reopened (as of 9.30am local time on Wednesday), there are talks of closing it again for commercial flights so that resources can be flown in if necessary. Train traffic was also halted, and railways and roads are still feeling the effects today.
What’s the latest UK Foreign Office advice?
There’s no travel advice which recommends against visiting France, but the FCDO’s ‘safety and security’ page reads as follows: ‘Wildfires can start anywhere in France during the summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica. The French weather service has launched a fire alert map for travellers to check. Fires have become more frequent because of drought and high temperatures. French authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons. If you’re staying in a high-risk area: check the local safety and emergency procedures; be vigilant; follow the advice of local authorities.’
Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel because of wildfires?
In terms of flights, you’ll be covered as a UK traveller if you’re travelling from a UK airport, arriving at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arriving at an EU airport on a UK airline. This means that the operator is responsible for providing you with accommodation and food for as long as you’re delayed. You should also be offered a refund instead of an alternative flight, but this stuff doesn’t necessarily apply if the reason for cancellation is out of the airline’s control (such as a natural disaster).
You also won’t automatically be able to cancel without a penalty necessarily, as the government hasn’t advised against travel – speak to your travel provider directly to see what can be done.
Where else in Europe has been affected by wildfires and heatwaves?
Europe has been scorched by a heatwave recently, due to a ‘heat dome’ where high pressure trapped hot air that journeyed in from north Africa. It led to extremely high temperatures in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Türkiye and France, and you can read more in our guide here.
50,000 people were evacuated from Izmir, Türkiye due to wildfires in the region last week, and wildfires also spread across Crete due to the high temperatures and strong winds.
The UK also experienced unseasonably high temperatures, with London and other areas in the south of England reaching highs of 35C. There’s more on that here.
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