About 1,200 people evacuated from coastal wildfire in northern France 13-Aug 00:56

About 1,200 people were evacuated from a campsite due to ​two wildfires near the beach ‌in the north of France, local officials said on Wednesday.

The prefecture for the ​administrative department of Pas-de-Calais, in the ​country's north and bordering the Strait ⁠of Dover, said one of ​the wildfires was under control, but ​conditions were "unfavourable" for the other one. Access was difficult and the fire was spreading unimpeded ​toward the south.

Affected campers were ​being moved to a shelter, the statement said.

France ‌and ⁠the wider European continent, the world's fastest-warming, have been battling an unusually active wildfire season, as a relatively wet winter ​fuelled growth ​in ⁠vegetation that then dried out during rolling heatwaves.

French environment ​minister Monique Barbut said earlier ​on ⁠Wednesday that the heatwaves could result in as much as €15 billion ($17 billion) in direct ⁠and ​indirect costs.

($1 = 0.8674 ​euros)