French wildfires see 10,000 holidaymakers evacuated from Riviera campsites and resorts

Hundreds of firefighters in the Riviera region of southern France and on the island of Corsica have battled against wind-whipped blazes that have left some of them injured.

Eight firefighters and 15 police officers have been hurt in the fires, which broke out on Monday and have consumed nearly 4,000 hectares (9,880 acres) of vegetation, according to French authorities.

A fire service official said 10,000 holidaymakers had been evacuated from an area that doubles or triples its population in summer.

The French civil security authority has asked the European Union for help and to provide two Canadair planes to contain and extinguish the wildfire.

There have been no reports of injuries among residents or tourists.

Flames burned some 800 hectares (almost 2,000 acres) around the Var area of Provence, with two villas destroyed a dozen kilometres (seven miles) west of Saint-Tropez.

A huge fire in the neighbouring Luberon region was under control on Tuesday.

The Var prefecture said about 100 people were evacuated in Ramatuelle.

The largest blaze was in northern Corsica, with nearly 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) burned.

French interior minister Gerard Collomb arrived on Tuesday evening in Corsica to meet with emergency services.