Forest fires: Bouches-du-Rhône in red this Sunday

The Bouches-du-Rhône region is on red alert for forest fires this Sunday, with a "very high" risk of fires starting due to stronger winds, Météo-France warned on Friday.

According to Météo-France, the mistral and tramontane winds are expected to strengthen this weekend, "up to 70 to 80 km/h at peak speeds, maintaining a high fire danger level around the Mediterranean."

In addition to Bouches-du-Rhône, several prefectures have announced the closure of numerous forest areas for the weekend, as has been the case regularly since mid-July.

In the second half of the month, the mistral and tramontane winds, coupled with heat and drought, encouraged the outbreak of significant fires, particularly in Aude and Bouches-du-Rhône.

Halfway through the summer season, Civil Security has already counted more than 15,000 hectares burned across the entire national territory for 9,000 fires since the beginning of the year, mainly on the Mediterranean coast.