Two firefighters have died while battling a blaze in south-west France, the Interior Ministry has announced. Many flights are delayed due to the fire.
The two were tackling a major fire in a building in Mérignac, in the Gironde département of south-west France.
The fire is close to Bordeaux airport and many flights are cancelled or delayed.
Addressing the French parliament on Tuesday afternoon, Nunez said: “As I am speaking to you, I have learned from the préfet of Gironde that two firefighters have died while fighting a fire in a building in Mérignac.
“My thoughts are with their loved ones, and the fire service, and I will visit the location as soon as possible.”
President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his condolences to the firefighters’ loved one and “the recognition and support of the nation”.Â
Local media reported that the fire broke out at around 2.30pm on Tuesday, and is still ongoing. There are widespread road closures in Mérignac.
Multiple flights are listed as cancelled or delayed at Bordeaux airport, with no information at present on how long the disruption will last for. Anyone with a flight booked is advised to contact their airline.
Photos show a huge plume of smoke visible from the airport.
France’s fire services have been working at full stretch for weeks as wildfires ravaged large parts of the country.
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The deaths come just weeks after a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter died in the French Alps, hit by a landslide while tackling a major wildfire.