A wildfire that reached the northwestern outskirts of France's second-biggest city of Marseille was under control on Wednesday, but not over, officials said, warning that it could flare up again.

A wildfire that had reached the northwestern outskirts of France's second city of Marseille lost intensity overnight on Wednesday, but the airport was closed as firefighters continued to battle the flames.

Residents returned to their devastated homes on Wednesday after a wildfire on the fringes of Marseille destroyed or severely damaged dozens of houses and turned cars into blackened shells.