Deadly wildfire in southern France still spreading
The wildfire remained 'very active' on Wednesday and weather conditions were unfavourable, the local administration said in a statement.
One person died in their home, nine others were injured, including seven firefighters, and at least one person was missing, the statement said.
The Interior Ministry said the fire had spread over 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres), an area larger than the French capital Paris.
Jacques Piraux, mayor of the village of Jonquieres, said all residents have been evacuated.
'It's a scene of sadness and desolation,' he told broadcaster BFM TV after he visited 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.'
Residents and tourists in nearby areas were requested to remain in their homes unless told to evacuate by firefighters.
Two campsites were evacuated as a precaution.
French prime minister Francois Bayrou was expected to visit on Wednesday afternoon, his office said.
Last month, a wildfire that reached the southern port of Marseille, France's second-largest city, left around 300 people injured.
Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer.
Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.
Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed of the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
As blazes spread, French winemakers rue loss of 'fire break' vineyards
PARIS, Aug 7 (Reuters) - In southern France's sun-seared Aude region, farmers have been reluctantly digging up vines, spurred on by declining wine consumption and state subsidies, removing a natural, moisture-filled brake against wildfires. The loss of vineyards - nearly 5,000 hectares in Aude in the past 12 months alone - and its impact have been laid bare this week as the biggest wildfire in France since 1949 sweeps through the region, fanned by strong winds and parched vegetation. On Thursday, around 2,000 firefighters battled to control a blaze that has burned an area bigger than Paris, scorching homes, forest and farmland, and killing one person. Gusting winds saw the fire's frontlines jump hundreds of metres across a tinder-box landscape at a time, with the blaze at one stage advancing 5 kph. But local winemakers and mayors are also blaming the loss of vineyards for the fire's rapid spread. "It's very striking that everywhere where there were vineyards, the fire was for the most part stopped," French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou told growers on Wednesday as he visited the fire zone. The wildfire has charred some vineyards. But in many areas, neatly-manicured rows of vines and scrub-free soils survived as the fire burned around them, even if their grapes were destroyed. Baptiste Cabal, whose family cultivates 60 hectares in Saint-Laurent-de-La-Cabrerisse, at the epicentre of the blaze, said ripped-up vineyards were often left fallow, overtaken by scrub and brush. "Less idle land and more vines would be much better." Aude, part of the historic Corbieres wine belt known for its rich, aromatic reds, has lost 7% of its vineyards this year alone, extending a steady decline in recent decades. The government is paying growers 4,000 euros ($4,661.60) per hectare to tear up their vines to lower production to curb excess supply as drinking habits change. While it has encouraged other crops like olives and pistachios that can withstand the Mediterranean summer, local growers say there are no alternatives in the parched hills of Aude after sheep farming mostly disappeared. Europe is heating up at twice the global average speed and is the world's fastest-warming continent. Climate change increases hot and dry conditions that help fires spread faster, burn longer and rage more intensely. Aude has been in a state of drought for three straight years. "Nothing has been able to replace vines," said Ludovic Roux, a wine grower and president of Aude's chamber of agriculture. "Vines are the last barrier against fires." Local growers said hundreds of hectares of working vineyards had been destroyed while grapes from other plots risked being unusable after being covered in fire-retardant chemicals, or because smoke will spoil their taste. Cabal, who heads a local cooperative that produces wine on behalf of about 30 family growers, forecast a "catastrophic" harvest, with at least half of his family's vines damaged. Local farmers worry they may not recover without massive government support, leaving the region even more vulnerable to fires. "When there's uprooting there needs to be diversification with other crops, said Jerome Despey, a grower in the neighbouring Herault region and vice president of the FNSEA farmers union. "But the most important thing is to preserve vines, which are adapted to the Mediterranean climate." ($1 = 0.8581 euros)
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Map of France wildfires shows where the Aude region is as blaze intensifies
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video France's largest wildfire in decades is continuing to burn and spread across the south of the country, leaving miles worth of land damaged, local authorities have said. The blaze started on Tuesday and tore through the Corbieres Massif, a mountain range in the Pre-Pyrenees located in the Aude region. More than 2,100 firefighters have battled the fire over the past few days, with French authorities instructing water bomber aircraft to shower the area to dampen the flames. The fire's rapid spread was fuelled by weeks of hot, dry weather, though cooler temperatures and calmer winds overnight helped slightly ease the situation. Administrator for the region, Christian Pouget, told broadcaster BFMTV: 'The battle continues, we have a fire that is not yet under control.' The fire has swept through 15 communes in the Corbieres Massif, destroying or damaging at least 36 homes, with a full damage assessment still under way. Meanwhile, residents and tourists in nearby areas have been asked to remain in their homes unless told to evacuate. Those who had already fled the flames were sheltered overnight in temporary accommodation centres in 17 municipalities. One person has died, and at least 13 others were injured, including 11 firefighters. Three people have been reported missing. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, which has left a blackened landscape of skeletal trees and ash. The fire began in the village of Ribaute, about 69 miles south east of the city of Toulouse in the south of France. It then spread to the Corbières Massif, six miles west. Xavier de Volontat, the mayor of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, speaking to BFMTV, said: 'It's very sad to think about the image we're going to give of our Corbieres region, with its devastated landscapes and desperate women and men, not just today or tomorrow, but for weeks and months to come. It will take years to rebuild.' It is the most significant fire France has faced since 1949, according to Agnes Pannier-Runacher, France's minister for ecological transition. 'The night was cooler, so the fire is spreading more slowly, but it remains the most significant fire France has seen since 1949. 'It is a fire that is clearly a consequence of climate change and drought in this region.' The Aude region is located in the south west of France, close to the borders of Spain and Andorra. The nearest large city is Toulouse, located just north of the region, and contains towns popular with British tourists, including Carcassonne, Narbonne and Perpignan. Wildfires have been raging this summer in Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria amid a 44°C heatwave, ongoing droughts and strong winds. Here is a breakdown of what's been happening in each country. Wildfires have engulfed Turkey for the last few weeks, with its fourth largest city of Bursa being badly hit two weekends ago. More than 3,500 people were forced to flee their homes in villages to the northeast as more than 1,900 firefighters battled the flames. The highway linking the city to the capital, Ankara, was shut as surrounding forests burned. Four people died in the area. Their deaths raised Turkey's wildfire fatalities to 17 since June, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed on Wednesday. Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for Bursa, described the site as 'an apocalypse'. He added on X: 'While carrying water to the forest fire between Gürsu and Kestel districts, the water tanker that rolled into a ravine claimed the lives of our three worker brothers. 'As our lungs burned, this tragedy added a heartache to our pain. I wish mercy for our brothers and condolences to their families, loved ones, and our Bursa.' Footage revealed an ashen landscape where farms and pine forests had earlier stood. The rise in wildfires comes as Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature of 50.5°C in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday. In neighbouring Greece, 50 fires scorched the suburbs of Athens, forcing the government to evacuate residents in July. Firefighters were working on five major fronts in the area of Peloponnese, west of the capital, as well as on the islands of Evia, Kythera and Crete. Kythera, a tourist island with 3,600 residents, continued to face 'worrying' conditions. Deputy mayor Giorgos Komninos told the state-run ERT News channel that half of Kythera had been charred. He said: 'Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt.' ERT reported that a fire was still burning on the island late Sunday, but in smaller fronts and the situation was improving. Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a statement released on Sunday morning: 'The state mechanism was called to engage in a titanic battle, simultaneously responding to dozens of wildfires across the country. 'Today, the situation appears improved, but the fight continues with all available resources.' Firefighters battled wildfires at nearly 100 locations across the country two weekends ago, with emergency services describing the situation as 'critical'. Theodora Vasileva, mayor of one of the devastated villages, Kozarevo, in the southeastern province of Yambol, said this is the first time she had witnessed a disaster of such magnitude. She added: 'The rapid notification system helped us a lot – people started calling and gathered in minutes. This is the first time I am seeing this hell; the sunflower crops were all in flames. 'The elderly, whose homes are everything for them, wept. They were so worried, but everything is under control for now, their houses are preserved.' Emergency volunteer Zvezdelin Vlaykov stressed that in all his years of firefighting, he has never seen anything like it. More Trending He added: 'It's a merciless tragedy.' This comes as two men were charged with terrorism offences after allegedly deliberately setting fires in the cities of Veliko Turnovo and Sliven. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that the charges have been escalated from simple arson to crimes under Chapter One of the Criminal Code. Bulgaria is the most affected country by fires for 2024-2025 in the EU, with more that 38,000 square miles affected. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Interest rates fall even further – what does that mean for you? MORE: Benefit's new foundation promises flawless skin — but does it live up to the hype? 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Time Out
5 hours ago
- Time Out
Is it safe to visit the south of France? Latest advice as wildfire blazes
Wildfires are, tragically, the new norm in southern Europe in the summer months, but it's no longer just Greece, Spain and Türkiye suffering the consequences of extreme temperatures and prolonged dry conditions. A wildfire broke out in the Aude department of southern France and, in just 24 hours, has scorched an area one and a half times the size of Paris. Authorities are working tirelessly to control the blaze, but this is obviously worrying news if you're headed to the region on holiday, so we've rounded up everything you need to know about travelling to the south of France right now. Where is the wildfire in France? This blaze began in the village of Ribaute, near the Spanish border in the Aude department, but has since spread across the rural area of Corbières, which is famous for its mediaeval villages and vineyards. Overnight, an area the size of Paris has been scorched. Is it safe to travel? The wildfire has been described by French Prime Minister François Bayrou as 'a catastrophe of unprecedented scale,' and is the largest fire to burn in France in the last 70 years. The same amount of land burned in 24 hours typically gets destroyed over a whole year in France, according to the Guardian. It's been a fast-moving event, as dry conditions, continually high temperatures and strong winds have meant a quick spread of flames and difficulty getting them under control. Water has been dropped from planes, but the secretary general of the Aude Prefecture Lucie Roesch has said the 'fire will keep us busy for several days'. Residents of the village of Jonquières have been evacuated, as have lots of visitors who were staying on campsites in the Aude prefecture. Elsewhere, people have been asked to stay indoors and only leave if instructed to by the fire brigade. Tragically, one woman has died, and nine people, including several firefighters, have been injured so far. 'I find it tragic to see so many fires since the beginning of the summer,' said Aude Damesin, a resident of Febrezan, told Agence-France-Presse. 'It's terrible for the wildlife, the flora and for the people, who are losing everything.' A wildfire broke out in the suburbs around France's second city Marseille last month, injuring around 300 people. You can read about the Marseille fire here. What's the latest UK Foreign Office advice? The FCDO's travel advice page has a section on wildfires, which reads: 'Wildfires can start anywhere in France during the summer months, particularly along the Mediterranean coast and in Corsica. The French weather service has launched a fire alert map to help travellers stay up to date.' 'Fires have become more frequent because of drought and high temperatures. French authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons. Causing a wildfire is illegal in France, even if it is started by accident. You could get a fine or a prison sentence.' 'If you're staying in, or near, a high-risk area see advice from the French government (in English) for information about: what to do if a wildfire breaks out; how to prevent wildfire outbreaks; protecting your home from wildfires (including mandatory bush clearance).' 'If you are caught in, or witness, a wildfire, call the emergency services on 18 (fire) or 112 (emergency services).' Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel because of wildfires? If you're already in France and want to leave early, you might be able to with no extra charge, but this depends on your travel provider. However, cutting your trip short won't mean that you get the rest of it refunded, so contact them directly to find out what can be done. The same goes for if you want to cancel before you travel. Travellers who have been evacuated should also be able to seek reasonable compensation for their trip if the company they booked through does not proactively offer a refund or vouchers, according to the Package Travel Regulations. Where else in Europe has been affected by wildfires and heatwaves? Greece, Italy and Türkiye are just some of the other countries that have suffered from wildfires so far this summer, alongside southern Cyprus and Balkan countries such as Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Bulgaria. You can read all the latest information in our comprehensive guide.
