A massive wildfire in southern France has scorched an area larger than Paris and continues to spread rapidly, marking the country’s largest wildfire since 2006, authorities said Wednesday.
The blaze ignited Tuesday afternoon in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, near the Spanish border. Fueled by hot, dry, and windy conditions, it has already destroyed over 16,000 hectares (39,500 acres) of forests and vineyards — a scale French Prime Minister François Bayrou called “a disaster on an unprecedented scale.”
Loss of Life and Devastation
1 person has died in their home.
At least 13 others have been injured, including 11 firefighters.
3 people remain missing.
Entire villages, like Jonquières, have been evacuated, with most of the homes reportedly burned down.
“It’s a scene of sadness and desolation,” said Jacques Piraux, mayor of Jonquières. “It looks like a lunar landscape... It’s hellish.”
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Emergency Response
2,100+ firefighters and water-dropping aircraft have been deployed.
The French military will join firefighting efforts on Thursday.
Roads have been closed, and at least two campgrounds were evacuated.
Residents and tourists have been advised to stay indoors unless ordered to evacuate.
Local witnesses described the terrifying speed of the fire. “The sky turned orange in less than an hour,” said Andy Pickup, a resident of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse. “We could see flames on every hill... some just 100 meters away.”
Impact on the Region
The area, known for its vineyards and tourism, faces long-term economic damage. Prime Minister Bayrou emphasized the government’s support for affected communities and noted that both key industries are at risk.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
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Climate Conditions to Blame
France’s Environment Ministry confirmed that drought conditions and very dry vegetation played a major role in the fire’s rapid spread. The Aude region has faced water restrictions due to a lack of rain.
This wildfire is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather in Southern Europe, where climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires. Last month, a blaze near Marseille left around 300 people injured.
According to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s.
“We’ve lived here for 10 years and never seen anything like this,” Pickup added. “Summers are getting hotter, rainfall is declining — it’s a serious problem.”
The fire remains “very active,” and stronger winds are expected to complicate efforts further in the coming days.
Source: Agency