Muscat: French authorities have raised the wildfire alert level in 27 regions as scorching temperatures and dry conditions heighten the risk of blazes, following a series of fires in southern France and Corsica. According to Oman News Agency, the national weather service said today that 27 regions, mostly in western and southern France, had been placed under high wildfire risk, while six regions - including H©rault, Gard, Bouches-du-Rh´ne, Var and Corsica - were placed under an orange heatwave alert.

The southeastern Var region saw several fires on Sunday, with authorities closing parks and forests as a precaution while firefighting crews continue to battle the flames. Fires sparked by lightning strikes in Haute-Corse in northern Corsica have been burning for more than a week, with weather conditions continuing to favour further spread.

The weather service expects the wildfire risk zone to expand on Tuesday, with four southern regions moving to the very high risk level.