A wildfire broke out near Marseille on Tuesday, shutting down the city’s main airport as a massive cloud of smoke covered the skyline.

Footage shared by X user ball shows the flames rapidly approaching residential areas while smoke drifts over the city.

Emergency services confirmed that 168 firefighters were sent to battle the blaze, which has already consumed around 74 acres near Les Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille.

Helicopters and fire engines were deployed as part of the response.

Residents were told to stay indoors. “At this stage, populations must remain confined to residential areas,” read a warning from the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur prefecture on X.

Officials also urged people to “Close shutters and doors, keep your property clear for emergency services, and do not travel on the roads.”

Strong winds led to evacuations in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, according to BFM TV, which broadcast scenes of swaying trees and residents reacting to the situation.

Marseille airport halted all flights from around midday, a spokesperson confirmed. Planes were diverted to other airports including Nice and Nimes. The shutdown came just as France’s summer travel season began. It is not yet clear when flights will resume.

A local resident said the smell of smoke reached central Marseille.

“The fire is spreading,” the city’s municipality posted on X. “Avoid all outdoor activities and do not block emergency access routes. Follow instructions and alert messages.”

In another part of the country, a separate wildfire near Narbonne, which started on Monday, is still burning. Winds of 60 kilometers per hour have helped it destroy 2,000 hectares so far, the prefecture said.