Hundreds Of Firefighters Battling Wildfirers Across Southern France

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 Hundreds of firefighters were battling blazes across southern France on Monday, with one inferno spreading across 900 hectares of forest and threatening homes on the island of Corsica, emergency services said. Residents were evacuated from homes at the edge of the town of Biguglia, on the island's northeastern coast.

 "The fire is very fierce and heading to urban areas of Biguglia," lieutenant-colonel Michel Bernier, of France's civil defence forces, told.The Lazed a sawmill and burned 10 vehicles. "We are awaiting reinforcements," said regional deputy fire chief Jean-Jacques Peraldi.

 Around 160 people were battling the blaze aided by more than a dozen fire engines. Local official Gerard Gavory said that three firefighting planes were also involved, and "have been surveying the area to make sure no homes are affected." Another fire on the south of the island, which destroyed 110 hectares around the town of Aleria, was brought under control on Monday, Bernier said.

 Elsewhere in France, a fire raged in the forests around Luberon in the Vaucluse region, covering 800 hectares by late Monday. Firefighters told  they had been unable to keep the flames under control.

 More than 270 firefighters were on the scene. "It's a very dangerous day," Bernier said. "And the fight is going to be very, very long tonight." 

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