A thousand firefighters have been mobilised to battle a wildfire that has reached the outer edge of Marseille, France's second largest city, reports BBC News.
"The marine firefighter battalion is waging guerrilla warfare, hoses in hand," said the city's Mayor Benoît Payan, referring to Marseille's fire and rescue service.
The prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône area, Georges-François Leclerc, urged local residents to remain indoors and said firefighters were "defending" the city.
He said that while the situation was not static, it was "under control".
At least 400 people have been evacuated from their homes, according to French media. Nine firefighters are said to have been injured.
At its peak, the fire spread at a rate of 1.2km (0.7 miles) per minute, Payan said, according to French broadcaster BFMTV. This was due to a unique combination of wind gusts, dense vegetation and steep slopes.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who was on a state visit to the UK, expressed support for fire crews and called for residents to follow safety instructions.
"Our thoughts are with the injured and all residents," he wrote on X.
Interior minister Bruno Retailleau was due to arrive in Marseille in the evening.
Marseille Provence airport has partially reopened after being closed since midday. Julien Coffinier, the airport's president, said he had "never experienced a situation of this magnitude".
Residents have been advised to stay inside, close shutters and doors, and keep roads clear for emergency services.
See more of this report, with video, from BBC News.