Rabat – A large wildfire broke out on Tuesday in the Aude region of southern France, burning through 11,000 hectares of land.
One person has died, nine others have been injured, and several homes have been destroyed, according to local authorities.
The fire spread quickly due to dry conditions, high winds, and the lack of natural fire barriers like vineyards, which used to help slow down fires in the past, officials said. The region has also been suffering from a long drought, which has made it more vulnerable to wildfires.
More than 1,800 firefighters have been working to stop the fire, with help expected from aircraft in the coming days. Around 2,500 homes in the area have lost electricity, and some roads and camping sites have been closed. One village was partially evacuated for safety.
Lucie Roesch, the secretary general of the Aude prefecture, said the fire is still moving and firefighters are trying to control its edges to stop it from spreading further. She warned that it would take several days to fully bring the fire under control.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that the government is using all its resources to fight the fire.
Seven firefighters were injured while battling the blaze. One person suffered serious burns, and another was also hurt.
The fire’s advance slowed during the night thanks to higher humidity levels, but officials say the danger is not over yet.
Wildfires have become more frequent in the Mediterranean region in recent years with hotter summers and less rainfall. The Aude department, in particular, has seen more land burn each year, partly because old vineyards that once acted as firebreaks have been removed.
