France's devastating fires now 'under control', says PM

French PM Sebastien Lecornu said on Saturday that the devastating fires in France are now 'under control'.

The largest wildfire, which erupted near Bordeaux in the Gironde region, has burned 42,000 hectares of pine forest and destroyed about 240 homes.

Most of the 224,000 people evacuated have been allowed to return home, according to prefect Sophie Brocas.

In the Var region, a fast-moving fire spread 'faster than a galloping horse' and is still under close surveillance.

The fire near Bordeaux is the largest since a deadly forest fire in 1949, which scorched around 50,000 hectares.