PARIS (Reuters) -A wildfire that had reached the northwestern outskirts of France's second city of Marseille lost intensity overnight on Wednesday, but the airport was expected to close as firefighters continued to battle the flames. Residents who had been told to stay in their homes for their own safety were once again allowed out.

A fast-moving wildfire reached the outskirts of Marseille, France’s second-largest city, on Tuesday, leading its airport to be shut down, with residents told to stay indoors and shut all openings to be safe from the smoke.

A wildfire in southern France has forced Marseille airport to close and interrupted train traffic as the blaze spread rapidly to the edges of the southern French city.