Wildfire Devastates Southern France, Claims One Life
A massive wildfire in southern France has killed one person and injured nine, burning 11,000 hectares. Officials report 1,820 firefighters are responding to the blaze, which is linked to regional drought conditions and the loss of natural firebreaks.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A devastating wildfire tearing through the Aude region of southern France has claimed one life, injured nine others, and destroyed homes after scorching 11,000 hectares of land, according to a report from France24. The blaze, which began Tuesday afternoon, is progressing with such speed that officials have mobilized a massive emergency response for what they warn will be a long-term operation lasting several days.
Local authorities in the Aude prefecture confirmed the fatality on Wednesday, as cited in the France24 report. The prefecture also stated that one person was seriously burned while another civilian was injured, in addition to seven firefighters who were hurt battling the blaze. A significant force of 1,820 firefighters is on the ground trying to bring the fire under control as it continues to threaten several villages in the department.
The scale of the emergency prompted a response from the highest level of government, with President Emmanuel Macron stating on the social media platform X late Tuesday that all of the government's resources were being mobilized to tackle the Aude fire, France24 reported. The blaze has had a severe impact on local infrastructure and communities, leaving approximately 2,500 households without electricity. In response to the encroaching flames, camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated, and several local roads have been closed to traffic.
Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture, told France24 that firefighters are monitoring the fire's perimeter to prevent flare-ups. "The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress," Roesch stated, adding that the fire's advance did slow overnight due to high humidity levels, with aerial support expected at dawn. She warned, however, that "this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation."
According to France24, officials have linked the region's growing vulnerability to such intense fires to persistent drought conditions and environmental changes. The Aude department has reportedly seen an increase in the area burned by wildfires in recent years, a situation aggravated by low rainfall and the removal of vineyards, which historically served as natural firebreaks to help slow the progression of blazes.
