France, July 31 -- Over 100 hectares of a pine forest in the southwestern France have been destroyed, in a massive blaze that was eventually brought under control in the early hours of Friday morning. No casualties were reported, but at least three homes were completely destroyed, and dozens of people have been evacuated.

The wildfire in the Chiberta pine forest, near the coastal community of Anglet in southwestern France (Pyrenees-Atlantiques), began on Thursday morning, brought on by soaring temperatures and drought-like conditions and continued into the evening.

The cause of the blaze - fought by over a hundred fire fighters and Canadair water bombers - has yet to be established.

While the worst of the fire has now been brought unde...