Firefighters worked to prevent the blaze from entering France’s second-biggest city, where ash and smoke had spread overnight.

A huge wildfire on the edges of Marseille started to retreat after injuring more than 100 people, forcing residents to evacuate and destroying a number of homes.

About 800 firefighters are at the scene, France's interior minister says, and will battle the blaze through the night.

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.

Flames licked the outskirts of Marseille on Tuesday, with residents warned to stayed inside, close doors and keep roads clear for emergencies.

Flights to and from Marseille have been suspended and traffic at the city’s main train station was disrupted due to a wildfire near the southern French port city.