Firefighters contain wildfires in France

Firefighters managed to contain wildfires in southern France which threatened the city of Marseille.

More than 1,500 firefighters tackled blazes which injured three people and four firefighters, some seriously, AFP reports. The firefighters were hurt battling a blaze further west in Herault, when their vehicle was surrounded by flames.

Despite containing the fire, authorities remain on alert as more windy conditions, which caused the spread of the fire, are expected.

The French fires took hold on Wednesday afternoon and spread over more than 3,300 hectares of scrubland and wooded areas.

Vitrolles, about 25km north of Marseille, was the town worst affected. Other towns affected included Pennes-Mirabeau, Saint-Victoret, Fos-sur-Mer and Rognac, where the BBC says the main fire started.

Marseille airport warned that regardless of improving conditions, some roads to the airport remained closed and advised travellers to use trains.

Fires have also raged in mainland Portugal, killing one, and on the holiday island of Madeira, killing three elderly people and forcing more than 1,000 to evacuated their homes.