One dead, nine injured in large France wildfire
The blaze, which started yesterday, has destroyed or damaged 25 homes in the southern Aude department, where some 2,000 firefighters are struggling to control the largest wildfire in France this summer.
"The fire is still very active and the situation remains unfavourable," said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture, citing drought conditions, rising temperatures and strong winds.
An elderly woman died in her home, one person is missing and two people were injured, one of whom is now in critical condition with severe burns, according to the Aude prefecture.
Seven firefighters have also been injured by smoke inhalation.
The blaze has burned some 15,000 hectares of land in less than 24 hours.
"The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress," Ms Roesch said.
Planes are dropping water on the flames, but Ms Roesch warned "this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation".
Camping grounds and at least one village were partially evacuated, and several roads have been closed.
"I left everything behind me," said David Cerdan, a 51-year-old who fled Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, where a woman in her 60s died after she refused to leave her home.
"I'm putting it into perspective. I only have material damage," said Mr Cerdan, who lived near the victim.
Prime Minister François Bayrou and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau are due to visit the Aude department.
An investigation has been opened into the cause of the fire, said local officials.
The wildfire is the biggest in France so far in a summer which has already seen some 9,000 fires, mainly along the Mediterranean coast, according to the emergency management service.
"All of the nation's resources are mobilised," President Emmanuel Macron said on X, while calling on people to exercise "the utmost caution".
The Aude department in particular has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the uprooting of vineyards, which used to help slow down the advance of fires.
People as far as 30km away from the fire have felt its impact.
"The air is suffocating...the smell of burning has seeped into homes," said Serge de Souza, a local in the seaside town of Port-la-Nouvelle.
The frequency of wildfires is taking a toll on local residents, said Aude Damesin, who lives in the town of Fabrezan.
"I find it tragic to see so many fires since the beginning of the summer," she said.
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RTÉ News
9 hours ago
- RTÉ News
One dead, nine injured in large France wildfire
Hundreds of firefighters are battling to halt the spread of a wildfire in southern France that has scorched a vast area, killed one person and injured nine others. The blaze, which started yesterday, has destroyed or damaged 25 homes in the southern Aude department, where some 2,000 firefighters are struggling to control the largest wildfire in France this summer. "The fire is still very active and the situation remains unfavourable," said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture, citing drought conditions, rising temperatures and strong winds. An elderly woman died in her home, one person is missing and two people were injured, one of whom is now in critical condition with severe burns, according to the Aude prefecture. Seven firefighters have also been injured by smoke inhalation. The blaze has burned some 15,000 hectares of land in less than 24 hours. "The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress," Ms Roesch said. Planes are dropping water on the flames, but Ms Roesch warned "this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation". Camping grounds and at least one village were partially evacuated, and several roads have been closed. "I left everything behind me," said David Cerdan, a 51-year-old who fled Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, where a woman in her 60s died after she refused to leave her home. "I'm putting it into perspective. I only have material damage," said Mr Cerdan, who lived near the victim. Prime Minister François Bayrou and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau are due to visit the Aude department. An investigation has been opened into the cause of the fire, said local officials. The wildfire is the biggest in France so far in a summer which has already seen some 9,000 fires, mainly along the Mediterranean coast, according to the emergency management service. "All of the nation's resources are mobilised," President Emmanuel Macron said on X, while calling on people to exercise "the utmost caution". The Aude department in particular has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the uprooting of vineyards, which used to help slow down the advance of fires. People as far as 30km away from the fire have felt its impact. "The air is smell of burning has seeped into homes," said Serge de Souza, a local in the seaside town of Port-la-Nouvelle. The frequency of wildfires is taking a toll on local residents, said Aude Damesin, who lives in the town of Fabrezan. "I find it tragic to see so many fires since the beginning of the summer," she said.
Irish Independent
13 hours ago
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Irish Examiner
14 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Deadly wildfire in southern France still spreading
A fast-moving wildfire in a Mediterranean region of France near the Spanish border has left one person dead, several others injured and was still spreading on Wednesday after damaging a swathe of land as big as Paris overnight, authorities said. About 1,800 firefighters are fighting the blaze, which broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, a rural, wooded area that is also home to wineries. The wildfire remained 'very active' on Wednesday and weather conditions were unfavourable, the local administration said in a statement. The wildfire in the Corbieres massif, southern France (Securite Civile via AP) One person died in their home, nine others were injured, including seven firefighters, and at least one person was missing, the statement said. It said the fire had spread over 12,000 hectares (30,000 acres) of land, a surface area larger than the size of the French capital. That makes it the biggest wildfire in France so far this summer. Residents and tourists were requested to remain in their homes unless told to evacuate by firefighters. Two campsites have been evacuated out of precaution. French prime minister Francois Bayrou is expected on site on Wednesday afternoon, his office said. A water bomber dropping liquid on a fast-moving wildfire in a Mediterranean region of France near the Spanish border (Sandrine Verdun/SDIS11 via AP) Last month, a wildfire that reached the southern city 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.
