A wildfire that reached the northwestern outskirts of France's second-biggest city of Marseille was under control on Wednesday, but not over, officials said, warning that it could flare up again.

Residents returned to their devastated homes on Wednesday after a wildfire on the fringes of Marseille destroyed or severely damaged dozens of houses and turned cars into blackened shells.

APOCALYPTIC” blazes have forced Marseilles International Airport to shut down as France braces to tackle raging wildfires. Plumes of acrid smoke billowed into the sky – causing

A thousand firefighters have been mobilised to battle a wildfire that has reached the outer edge of Marseille, France's second largest city. "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.