375 PEOPLE DETAINED ON SUSPICION OF ARSON

PARIS, AUGUST 3 /SRNA/ - France's Interior Ministry said that 375 people had been detained on suspicion of deliberately starting the fires that have devastated parts of the country, broadcaster Ici reported.

The ministry said that, of those detained since the start of the summer, 142 were minors.

Around 119,000 hectares have been burned in severe wildfires across France this year.

Two major wildfires continue to rage in the southwestern department of Gironde and the southeastern department of Var.