Fire in southern France burns 11,000 hectares, injures nine
"The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress. We are monitoring the edges and the back of the fire to prevent flare-ups," said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture.
She said firefighters are expecting to receive aerial support at dawn, but warned "this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation".
The fire's advance slowed overnight due to high humidity levels, she added.
One person was seriously burned and another injured, the prefecture said, adding that seven firefighters were also hurt.
Camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated, and several local roads have been closed.
"All of the Nation's resources are mobilised," French President Emmanuel Macron said on X, while calling on people to exercise "the utmost caution".
The Aude department has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the removal of vineyards, which used to help break the progression of fires.
© 2025 AFP
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France 24
8 hours ago
- France 24
Massive wildfire in France surpasses the size of Paris, continues to spread
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AFP
8 hours ago
- AFP
Video compilation misrepresents old, unrelated clips as Wyoming hailstorm
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"This is what I get for visiting Missouri," the user wrote. Image Screenshot from TikTok taken August 5, 2025 Minnesota, July 2023 Image Screenshot from TikTok taken August 4, 2025 The eighth clip in the compilation, which is also inverted, shows a hailstorm over a lake in Deer River, Minnesota. Storyful and the Weather Channel both published the footage, dating it to July 2023 (archived here and here). Image Screenshot from YouTube taken August 5, 2025 Australia, November 2019 Image Screenshot from TikTok taken August 4, 2025 The ninth clip, of ice chunks pounding a pool deck, also appears in the YouTube montage of hailstorm videos from "Severe Weather Australia" (archived here). A text overlay places the footage in Palmview, a locality in Queensland, in November 2019. 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Calgary, August 2024 Image Screenshot from TikTok taken August 4, 2025 The 13th clip in the compilation has been online since August 2024, when a TikTok user shared it in connection with a hailstorm in Calgary, a city in Alberta, Canada (archived here). Texas, May 2020 Image Screenshot from TikTok taken August 4, 2025 The 14th shot is an inverted version of footage uploaded to to a storm-chasing YouTube channel in May 2020 (archived here). The caption says a thunderstorm produced large hail near Quanah, Texas, along Oklahoma Highway 6 north of the Red River. A search of the area on Google Street View uncovered what appears to be a matching street sign (archived here). AFP has debunked other misinformation about weather here.
Local France
12 hours ago
- Local France
One dead and nine injured in massive wildfire in southern France
The blaze, which started on Tuesday afternoon, has destroyed or damaged 25 homes in the Aude département of south-west France - between Narbonne and Carcassone - where 1,500 firefighters have been battling to extinguish it. A 65-year-old woman died in her home and two people were injured, one of whom is now in critical condition with severe burns, according to the Aude prefecture. READ ALSO : Evacuation, road closures, maps: Get the latest on the fatal wildfire in southern France✎ Local officials added that the woman had been "very determined" to remain in her home. The fire - which is still not under control - has been described as spreading exceptionally rapidly due to strong winds and parched vegetation. Seven firefighters have also been injured, two of whom were hospitalised. Map showing the area affected by the wildfire. Map: Google maps "The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress. We are monitoring the edges and the back of the fire to prevent flare-ups," said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude préfecture. READ ALSO : IN PICTURES: Massive wildfire burns through southern France✎ Advertisement She said firefighters are expecting to receive aerial support at dawn, but warned "this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation". The fire's advance slowed overnight due to high humidity levels, she added. One person was seriously burned and another injured, the prefecture said, adding that seven firefighters were also hurt. Camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated, and several roads have been closed, including the A9 motorway that links southern France with Spain. Local authorities are telling people in the affected areas to remain in their homes with the windows closed, unless specifically ordered to evacuate. READ ALSO : MAP: How to check for wildfire alerts in France✎ "All of the Nation's resources are mobilised," French President Emmanuel Macron said on X, while calling on people to exercise "the utmost caution". The Aude department has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the removal of vineyards, which used to help break the progression of fires.
