At least one person killed in massive wildfire in southern France
The fire, which began on Tuesday, has so far burned through more than 130 square kilometres of land, an area larger than Paris, the interior ministry said. This makes it the largest wildfire in France so far this summer.
The local administration stated that weather conditions are unfavourable and the fire remains "very active." Around 2,000 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft have been mobilised to tackle the blaze which broke out in the rural village of Ribaute, a wooded area home to wineries.
Jacques Piraux, the mayor of the village of Jonquières, confirmed that all residents have been evacuated.
"It's a scene of sadness and desolation," he told local media after visiting the scene on Wednesday morning to assess the damage.
"It looks like a lunar landscape, everything is burned. More than half or three‑quarters of the village has burned down. It's hellish."
Reports indicate that the injured include seven firefighters and at least one person is missing. Two campsites have been evacuated as a precaution, while residents and tourists have been instructed to stay in their homes unless directed otherwise.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou is set to visit the area on Wednesday, according to his office. In July, the southern port city of Marseille, France's second-largest city, was also affected by a massive wildfire, which left around 300 people injured.
Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making southern Europe more vulnerable to wildfires.
The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed of the global average since the 1980s.
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