PARIS, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Wildfire that broke out early this week are still posing threat to France's forests in southeastern districts, the country's second main tourism destination after Paris, due to expected wind and continued dry weather, regional authorities said Thursday.
"Fires are still in progress," in Croix Valmer, Artigues and La Londe-les-Maures towns, while the blaze in Bornes-les-Mimosas where more than 10,000 people were evacuated on Tuesday overnight, was under control, the department of Var said in a statement
During a visit to the affected areas late on Wednesday, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said "the situation remains difficult... But, it is improving."
"The situation is still intense if we look at the number of fires going on in the region ...I am cautious because there will still be fire starts tomorrow (Thursday)," he added.
The blaze had consumed 10,000 hectares, twice the annual average of the last ten years, Philippe noted.
As huge wildfire is challenging the country's firefighting capacity, the prime minister unveiled a plan to buy six new aircraft to have "strong response to fire menaces."
The French government has already asked its European Union partners to send two extra air tankers to fight wildfire during an exceptionally hot, dry summer.
About 2,000 firefighters and 19 aircraft, including 10 Canadair water bombers, have been mobilised to battle the flammes in the southeastern region and Corsica island where wildfire has consumed 2,000 hectares of forest.
Eleven firemen were injured in fighting the wildfire whose cause remains unknown. But according to local reports two teenagers have been placed into custody on Wednesday as part of the investigation.
