Marseille firefighters battle blaze at historic Marché du Soleil market

Marseille’s marine fire brigade launched a massive response to a blaze that broke out in the Marché du Soleil market in the city’s second district early Thursday morning. The fire, which has spread over roughly 500 square metres of the 40-year-old bazaar, required the deployment of about 100 firefighters and 30 fire engines beginning at 2:19 a.m. Seventy-one people, among them children, were evacuated to a temporary shelter set up by the municipality and reported safe.

The market’s complex layout, featuring both open stalls and enclosed sections, has made the effort especially challenging, leading crews to employ high-capacity hydraulic equipment to contain the flames and shield adjacent structures, including a nearby school. Authorities have also closed five bus lines and urged residents to avoid the area around the Porte d’Aix due to congestion and the risk of structural collapse. The site, previously shut down after a major crackdown on counterfeit goods, remains under judicial scrutiny following a recent court ruling that confirmed its permanent closure and ordered the confiscation of the property.