Authorities in the Bouches-du-Rhône and Var departments in southeastern France have announced the closure of all 26 forest massifs in Bouches-du-Rhône and half of those in Var on Sunday, August 18, due to a "very severe" fire risk.

This decision comes as strong mistral winds, with gusts reaching up to 75 km/h, heighten the danger of wildfires.

Popular tourist areas, including the calanques between Marseille and Cassis, will be off-limits, and access to four coastal massifs in Var will also be restricted.

The forest massif of Maures in Var will be closed, leading to the shutdown of two rest areas on the A57 highway.

Earlier in June, a wildfire fueled by strong winds burned 600 hectares in Var, with investigations suggesting an accidental cause.

The region, historically prone to summer wildfires, faces increasing challenges due to climate change, as evidenced by a devastating fire in August 2021 that destroyed 7,000 hectares and led to mass evacuations.