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Wildfires in southern France destroy 3,300 hectares of forests

Xinhua, August 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Wildfires that erupted on Wednesday in many towns in southern France have destroyed 3,300 hectares of forests, local authorities said Thursday.

Fire in Rognac in the southern Department of Bouche-du-Rhone blackened 2,500 hectares of forests before being contained near Marseille, capital of the department and France's second-largest city, said the authorities.

Blazes injured three people in Rognac and four firefighters in the Herault Department, three of them in critical situation.

A total of 1,800 firefighters, 500 vehicles and seven planes had been mobilized to fight the fires.

"The situation is difficult because of the weather, with strong winds and a drought that lasted several weeks," said French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. Endi