France is currently battling the largest wildfire in 75 years, spreading across an area larger than the city of Paris. The fire originated on Tuesday near the village of Ribot in the southern Aude region and has rapidly expanded, consuming approximately 42,000 acres (17,000 hectares) of forest land so far.
More than two thousand firefighters, military personnel, and police officers, supported by over 500 firefighting vehicles, are actively working to contain the blaze. Lucy Rouesh, Secretary General of the Aude administration, stated that while the fire is now under control, it will take time before it is completely extinguished.
At least one woman has lost her life in the fire, and thirteen people have been injured, most of whom are firefighters. Two of the injured remain in critical condition.
According to BBC reports, specialized aircraft are assisting firefighting efforts by dropping water over affected areas. Access to the impacted zones remains restricted for the public due to the risk of fallen live electrical wires.
Seventeen temporary shelters have been established for those displaced, and many residents have been prohibited from returning to their homes. Maximum alert remains in place in villages surrounding Corbières.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou described the wildfire as an “unprecedented natural disaster” and attributed it to climate change and prolonged drought conditions. Environment Minister Agnès Panier-Runachau echoed this, labeling the fire as a consequence of climate change.
President Emmanuel Macron urged citizens to exercise utmost caution and pledged to mobilize all state resources to combat the disaster.