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French wildfires: 'The night sky was like Dante's inferno' French wildfires: 'The night sky was like Dante's inferno'
(about 4 hours later)
British holidaymakers have described a sky lit up "like Dante's inferno" as wildfires continue to burn in south-eastern France.British holidaymakers have described a sky lit up "like Dante's inferno" as wildfires continue to burn in south-eastern France.
More than 10,000 people have been evacuated, according to officials.More than 10,000 people have been evacuated, according to officials.
Hundreds of firefighters have been tackling the blazes.Hundreds of firefighters have been tackling the blazes.
But British tourists in the area have told the BBC that a change in the wind direction has seen flames continue to spread. Many are now anxiously waiting for further instructions.But British tourists in the area have told the BBC that a change in the wind direction has seen flames continue to spread. Many are now anxiously waiting for further instructions.
Rob Huckle, 18, is on holiday with his family in Port de Bormes, east of Toulon.Rob Huckle, 18, is on holiday with his family in Port de Bormes, east of Toulon.
"It's really taking a nasty turn now," he told the BBC."It's really taking a nasty turn now," he told the BBC.
"It kind of died down in the morning, but the wind has changed direction so [the fire has] blown onto new areas of unburned forest.""It kind of died down in the morning, but the wind has changed direction so [the fire has] blown onto new areas of unburned forest."
Mr Huckle, who lives close to Cambridge, said the fire was now as big as he had seen it.Mr Huckle, who lives close to Cambridge, said the fire was now as big as he had seen it.
From the apartment where he is staying he saw "thousands" of people being evacuated throughout the night.From the apartment where he is staying he saw "thousands" of people being evacuated throughout the night.
"The apartment we're in looks out on to Camp du Domaine," he said."The apartment we're in looks out on to Camp du Domaine," he said.
"People were evacuated from there and from the hillside."People were evacuated from there and from the hillside.
"There were thousands of people on the beach.""There were thousands of people on the beach."
Among those evacuated was Lisa Minot, a travel editor at the Sun newspaper. Among those evacuated from the Camp du Domaine campsite was Lisa Minot, a travel editor at the Sun newspaper.
Ms Minot told BBC Breakfast it was "a very, very long night". She told the BBC: "At 01:00 (local time), what we could see was the orange burning on the horizon, and by 02:00 the campsite decided they had to evacuate us.
"They really just cannot predict where the flames are going to go," she said. "The children… were being pulled down onto the beach by their parents.
"The strong winds are gusting at very high speeds and they switch - they go from one direction to the other." "We have a pitch that is right on the beach so we were there and we took in as many of these families as we could, with very young children.
Chris Wright is holidaying in the same campsite. "They are very tired and very, very upset kids now."
Chris Wright is also holidaying in the Camp du Domaine campsite.
"We were asleep last night and there was a knock on the door," he told the BBC."We were asleep last night and there was a knock on the door," he told the BBC.
"A friend said, 'I don't want to worry you, but you might have to pack a bag to evacuate.'"A friend said, 'I don't want to worry you, but you might have to pack a bag to evacuate.'
"We couldn't see anything at first, but as we walked to reception we could see the flames."We couldn't see anything at first, but as we walked to reception we could see the flames.
"There must have been a thousand people on the beach.""There must have been a thousand people on the beach."
John Grant, on holiday near Bormes-les-Mimosas, told the BBC the night sky was lit up "like Dante's inferno".John Grant, on holiday near Bormes-les-Mimosas, told the BBC the night sky was lit up "like Dante's inferno".
"It was scary," he said."It was scary," he said.
"We are regulars to the area and are used to the odd fire but this was certainly larger than anything we had seen previously.""We are regulars to the area and are used to the odd fire but this was certainly larger than anything we had seen previously."
Writing on Instagram on Wednesday, Ms Minot said that some tourists were uncertain as to their next movements.Writing on Instagram on Wednesday, Ms Minot said that some tourists were uncertain as to their next movements.
"[The] fire is getting fierce," she said. "We are packed but don't know what to do.""[The] fire is getting fierce," she said. "We are packed but don't know what to do."
Catherine Prentis, on holiday with her children, was evacuated from the campsite for a second time on Wednesday.Catherine Prentis, on holiday with her children, was evacuated from the campsite for a second time on Wednesday.
"They're telling us on the Camp du Domaine website to stay away," she said."They're telling us on the Camp du Domaine website to stay away," she said.
"The last update we had was that the flames were near the gates of the site."The last update we had was that the flames were near the gates of the site.
"We don't know what to do. Our campsite is about a mile away from where we are now."We don't know what to do. Our campsite is about a mile away from where we are now.
"People here are windsurfing, swimming, having fun - but if you look behind you there's a cloud of smoke covering the campsite." "People here are windsurfing, swimming, having fun - but if you look behind you, there's a cloud of smoke covering the campsite."
She said planes collecting water to fight the fires were "having to dodge the windsurfers".She said planes collecting water to fight the fires were "having to dodge the windsurfers".
"They've not really realised the carnage that's going on.""They've not really realised the carnage that's going on."
By UGC and Social news teamBy UGC and Social news team