Thousands Evacuated as Fire Blazes S. France

Local Editor

Thousands of holidaymakers were evacuated in southern France, where a raging fire threatened to sweep through several campsites.

Local authorities in the Pyrenees-Orientales region said that they evacuated some 3,000 French and other European holidaymakers from their campsites in Torreilles on Wednesday afternoon, fearing that the strong winds would spread the fire to where the tourists were staying.

The fire, ignited as a result of unknown causes, has already destroyed at least 22 bungalows and burned down some tents in the area, local official Helene Girardot said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team