Smoke Hangs Over French Riviera as Deadly Wildfire Rages

More than 1,000 French firefighters and dozens of police officers were mobilized as a deadly wildfire burned near Saint-Tropez in the country’s southern Var region on August 17; nearly 10,000 tourists and residents were evacuated from at-risk areas. The fire killed at least two people and injured 24, including five firefighters, Euronews reported. Firefighters warned on Monday evening that the fire was threatening the towns of La Mole, La Croix-Valmer, and Cavalaire-sur-Mer after it traveled 22 kilometers (13.7 miles). This footage from Agnès Maunoury, taken in La Croix-Valmer on August 16, shows dark orange smoke from the fire lingering overhead. Aided overnight by high winds, the fire had spread across 5,500 hectares (about 21 square miles) by Tuesday morning, fire officials said. President Emmanuel Macron visited the area on Tuesday to thank firefighters and express solidarity with victims. Credit: Agnès Maunoury via Storyful