Two firefighters were killed while battling a major blaze near Bordeaux-Merignac Airport in south-western France on Tuesday, local authorities said.
Footage shows flames and thick smoke billowing from the site as fire engines arrive and emergency crews race towards the blaze.
The fire broke out at around 14:30 local time in Merignac, a suburb of Bordeaux. Authorities said the firefighters had been tackling a building fire near the airport.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced the deaths during questions in the National Assembly. He said he had been informed by the regional prefect and was travelling to the area as emergency operations continued.
Bordeaux Airport said the nearby fire caused flight delays, with smoke visible from the airfield and restrictions affecting access to the surrounding area.
The Gironde department had been placed under a red forest-fire alert from midnight on Tuesday because of high risk of outbreaks. The warning was the second-highest level on the regional five-point scale.
The deaths came as repeated heatwaves and dry conditions left parts of France highly vulnerable to fast-moving fires.
Source: Viory
