YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS. Wildfires in southern France are threatening the city of Marseille, burning homes and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents, BBC reported.

More than 1,500 firefighters are tackling the blazes which sprang up in scrubland north of the city.

Deputy Mayor Julien Ruas said firebreaks had been created to protect northern neighbourhoods.

Wildfires have also been raging in Portugal and on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Three people have been killed on the holiday island and more than 1,000 have been forced from their homes.

French officials said homes had been destroyed in the towns of Vitrolles, about 25km (15 miles) north of Marseille, and nearby Pennes-Mirabeau. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated.

Marseille airport redirected incoming flights to make way for firefighting aircraft.

"The situation is out of control. The fire is extremely powerful, fast, explosive, and continues burning everything in its path," a statement from emergency services in Vitrolles said.

Two people have been reported injured, one seriously.

"Everything burned, the house, the car... there is nothing left," a resident of Vitrolles told BFM-TV.

Palls of thick smoke rose from Vitrolles and Pennes-Mirabeau and drifted over Marseille.

Mr Ruas said firebreaks had been set up in the path of the flames but if the fires pass those "it will move toward the northern neighbourhoods of Marseille".

"The fire is progressing. It's progressing fast," he told BFM-TV.

Four firefighters were hurt battling another blaze further west in Herault, when their vehicle was surrounded by flames.

On Madeira, the flames encroached on the capital Funchal and are blamed for the deaths of three elderly people whose homes caught light.

A fourth death was reported on the Portuguese mainland as wildfires raged in central regions.