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Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Europe's hellfire: France's killer wildfire the size of PARIS continues to rage after tourists in Spain are evacuated and country reports more than 1,000 have died from the heat
France 's deadly wildfire is continuing to tear through the country and cause 'hellish' devastation while tourists are being evacuated in Spain as the country announces one of its highest monthly tallies of heat deaths. The rapidly-growing wildfire, currently burning through an area larger than Paris, in southern France that broke out on Tuesday burned through some 16,000 hectares and remains 'very active' as of Wednesday, according to officials. One woman died in her home and least 13 others were injured, including 11 firefighters, while at least three people were reported missing as about 2,100 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft battled the blaze that broke out in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, a rural, wooded area that is home to several wineries. 'It's a scene of sadness and desolation,' said Jacques Piraux, mayor of the village of Jonquières, where all residents have been evacuated. 'It looks like a lunar landscape, everything is burned. More than half or three-quarters of the village has burned down.' It is believed to be the nation's worst wildfire since 1949. Meanwhile, 1,500 tourists and locals have been evacuated in Spain as a dramatic forest fire near a beach resort caused chaos in Tarifa, often branded a 'surfer's paradise' due to its extremely wide beaches and tall waves. Regional authorities in Spain said late on Wednesday that a wildfire raging near Tarifa that prompted evacuations had been 'stabilised'. The blaze in France - the biggest the country has seen all summer out of 9,000 fires - has damaged 25 homes in the Aude department, where 1,500 firefighters have been battling to extinguish it. A 65-year-old woman died in her home while nine others were injured, including seven firefighters were hurt as they fought the flames. A De Havilland Dash firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant on a forest fire burning in Saint Laurent de la Cabrerisse, Aude department, France, 6 August 2025 'The resident absolutely wanted to stay in her house and unfortunately the fire quickly arrived and engulfed her house,' said the mayor of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, Xavier de Volontat, about the victim. 'People are losing everything,' 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.' 'The fire is still spreading and is far from being contained or under control,' said Remi Recio, an official in the southern city of Narbonne. The Aude department in particular has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the removal of vineyards, which used to help brake the advance of fires. '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. Planes have been dropping water on the flames but Roesch warned 'this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation'. In Spain, hundreds of people were said to have bunkered down in a shelter in Algeciras after being evacuated from hotels and homes near the fire in Tarifa, as beach bars and campsites were abandoned in the chaos. Firefighters were still working to extinguish the fire on Wednesday, having battled through the night to control the blaze that required a team of up to 17 aircraft. The flames began spreading in the hills of Torre de la Peña, behind the hugely popular resort of Tarifa. According to the Andalucia firefighter service INFOCA, there are gusts of 20-25km/hr that are favouring the fire's spread. The fire was snaking very close to the N-340 highway and the Estrecho Natural Park - the former of which has been partially closed between Las Piñas and Pedro Valiente. Tarifa Mayor Antonio Santos has described the situation as unprecedented. 'This is the fastest-spreading fire I've ever seen,' he said on national channel La Sexta. Hundreds of the people evacuated from hotels and homes by the fire were said to have spent the night in a hostel in Algeciras, while droves found shelter in a La Marina sports centre in Tarifa as 5,000 fled the area in cars. Fire stations from elsewhere in the province including Chiclana, Benalup and Los Barrios sent troops to assist the effort against the blaze in Tarifa, as attempts are being concentrated on controlling the fire on the north and east flanks. The heatwave is expected to last until next Sunday, according to Spain's State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). Tourists sit on the beach as the smoke from wildfires raging in the Aude department is seen from the Mediterranean coast in Banyuls-sur-Mer, southwestern France, on August 5 All bars, restaurants or hotels have been evacuated between La Peña and Casas de Porros, reports local newspaper Europa Sur, including beach bars and 'chiringuitos' due to the large amounts of ash being carried down to the shore. According to the local police, the fire started in a motorhome at the Torre la Peña campsite, which also had to be evacuated. The flames then blew westward, away from the campsite, and spread rapidly through a hilly and grassland area where homes and tourist establishments are scattered - including the Wawa Hotel, which is reported to have been affected by the fire. Some 17 aircraft have been roped in to tackle the inferno, which took hold in Cadiz in Andalusia on Tuesday afternoon. The current firefighting operation involves five helicopters, two water-carrying planes and a coordination plane, five forest fire ground crews and more. In the wake of the French fire, French President Emmanuel Macron called on people to exercise the 'utmost caution', saying on X: 'All of the Nation's resources are mobilised.' Camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated, and several local roads have been closed. The fires there spread through a stretch of land roughly equivalent to the size of the French capital between Carcassonne and Narbonne. Four Canadairs, two Dashes and a water bomber helicopter resumed service around 7 am on Wednesday morning to fight the flames, as 100 police officers supported the effort. It comes as the country sees one of its worst months for heat-related deaths, with 1,060 people having died due to high temperatures in July, a 57 per cent increase from figures last year. 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. 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. The two blazes come just days after fires erupted in Portugal, Greece, and Spain, while tornadoes struck tourist hotspots in parts of Spain and Switzerland. Thousands of firefighters battled a dozen wildfires raging in northern Portugal and central Spain into Wednesday, in the largest wave of blazes in the Iberian Peninsula so far this year following weeks of summer heat. The largest wildfire burned in the wooded, mountainous Arouca area - 185 miles north of Lisbon - since Monday, leading to the closure of the scenic trails of Passadicos do Paiva, a popular tourist attraction. Some 800 firefighters and seven waterbombing aircraft tackled the blaze. 'There was a huge effort during the night, so now we have a somewhat calmer situation,' Civil Protection Commander Helder Silva told reporters, cautioning that shifting strong winds and a difficult terrain meant their work was far from over. 'It's a very large wildfire in areas with difficult access,' he said. Further north, a blaze raged from Saturday in the Peneda-Geres national park near the Spanish border, enveloping nearby villages in thick smoke that led to orders for residents to stay at home. Portuguese firefighters managed to control two large fires that started on Monday in the central areas of Penamacor and Nisa. Authorities said the Penamacor blaze had destroyed 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of forest. British tourists were put on alert as Greece wildfires spread amid a 44C heatwave in late July, causing homes to go up in flames in the coastal towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari 25 miles southeast of Athens. Some 145 firefighters, 44 fire engines, ten firefighting planes and seven helicopters were deployed on site as residents of the town of Kryoneri, 12.5miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS warnings to evacuate on July 26.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
1 Dead, Thousands Evacuated as Firefighters Battle Raging Wildfire: 'A Catastrophe of Unprecedented Scale'
Officials reportedly said this is the largest wildfire to burn in the area in 80 yearsNEED TO KNOW One person has died after another wildfire tore through southern France, forcing thousands of people to evacuate Two other people reportedly have been hospitalized, including one person who is in critical condition This new wildfire comes about a month after another blaze near Pennes-Mirabeau left more than 100 people injuredOne person is dead and thousands of people have been evacuated as a wildfire rages in southern France. The fire has burned more than 13,000 hectares (50 square miles) of land since it began near the village of La Ribaute in the Aude region on Tuesday, Aug. 5, according to the BBC and The Guardian. As of Wednesday, Aug. 6, the blaze is considered France's biggest wildfire in almost 80 years, according to Reuters. Officials have said one person has died in the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse. She has been described by the BBC as an elderly woman. Two other people have been hospitalized, including one person who is in critical condition. Several firefighters have been injured as well, according to the reports. All residents in the village of Jonquières have been evacuated, Mayor Jacques Piraux said, per The Guardian. Campgrounds in surrounding areas have been evacuated as well. In a post on X, President Emmanuel Macron urged residents to follow evacuation orders and exercise 'the utmost caution' near the blaze. At least 25 homes have been damaged by the fire, according to the BBC and Reuters. France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou described the fire as 'a catastrophe of unprecedented scale.' He is expected to visit the area on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Meanwhile, Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude area, said the fire 'is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress,' according to the BBC. She also said the blaze "will keep us busy for several days,' describing it as 'a long-term operation.' This new wildfire comes about a month after a separate wildfire in southern France left more than 100 people injured after burning near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. France's interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, said at the time that over 400 people were "ordered to evacuate" their homes due to the blaze, while another "14,000 were told to stay home." Read the original article on People
Nahar Net
4 days ago
- Climate
- Nahar Net
France biggest wildfire of summer has eclipsed size of Paris and is still spreading
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 August 2025, 18:06 France's biggest wildfire this summer was spreading quickly Wednesday in a Mediterranean region near the Spanish border after leaving one person dead, authorities said. The fire had burned an area larger than Paris. About 2,000 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft battled the blaze that broke out Tuesday afternoon in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, a rural, wooded area that is home to wineries. The fire, which has burned 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres), remained ''very active'' on Wednesday, the local administration said in a statement. The weather was hot, dry and windy, making it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze. One person died in their home, and at least 13 others were injured, including 11 firefighters, local authorities said. One person who was initially described as missing has been located and is safe. Jacques Piraux, mayor of the village of Jonquières, said all residents have been evacuated. "It's a scene of sadness and desolation," he told broadcaster BFM TV after he visited Wednesday morning. "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. Two campsites were evacuated as a precaution. French Prime Minister François Bayrou met Wednesday afternoon with firefighters and residents at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, where the fire service's command post has been set up. The environment ministry said the Aude region has been experiencing a drought this month, with water use restrictions in place. Lack of rainfall in recent months "played a major role in the spreading of the fire, since the vegetation is very dry," the statement said. 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. Last month, a wildfire that reached the southern port of Marseille, France's second-largest city, left around 300 people injured. 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.
Sky News
4 days ago
- Climate
- Sky News
One dead as 'hellish' wildfire burns across area the size of Paris in southern France
One person has died as France's biggest wildfire this summer sweeps through a southern region, forcing tourists and residents to flee. Officials called the scenes "hellish" after the blaze broke out in Ribaute in the region of Aude, close to the border with Spain. The victim died in their home in the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, about 20 miles north of the city of Perpignan, officials said. Thirteen people have been injured, including 11 firefighters, since the wildfire started on Tuesday, authorities added. One person who was initially feared missing has been located and is safe. The French interior ministry said the fire remains "very active" and has already burned across 13,000 hectares (79,000 acres) - an area larger than Paris. At least 25 houses have been burnt down, while many roads have been closed. The blaze was said to be spreading rapidly through forests and villages, forcing residents and tourists to flee. About 2,000 firefighters and several water-bomber aircraft were tackling the blaze. The hot, dry and windy conditions have been making it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze, officials added. Jacques Piraux, mayor of Jonquieres village, told broadcaster BFM TV: "It's a scene of sadness and desolation. "It looks like a lunar landscape, everything is burned. "More than half or three-quarters of the village has burned down. It's hellish." Dutch national Renate Koot, who was on holiday in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse with her partner, said: "One moment we were on the phone with our children ... thinking, 'look, a fire'. "The next, we had to jump in the car and leave, while praying for protection. "We didn't take anything with us and just left. We're okay, miraculously." Residents and tourists were advised to remain indoors unless told to evacuate by firefighters. Two campsites have been evacuated as a precaution. Drought conditions in Aude - which is a major wine-producing region - had forced officials to introduce restrictions on the use of water, the environment ministry said. The lack of rainfall in recent months had "played a major role in the spreading of the fire, since the vegetation is very dry," it added. Last month, a wildfire that reached the southern port of Marseille, France's second-largest city, left around 300 people injured. There have also been major wildfires in other parts of the Mediterranean and southern Europe in recent weeks, including in Spain, Crete, Greece and Turkey. 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. Scientists warn that climate change
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Deadly wildfire in southern France spreads near Spanish border as one dead
About 2,000 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft battled the blaze that broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, a rural, wooded area that is home to wineries. The wildfire remained "very active" on Wednesday and weather conditions were unfavourable, the local administration said in a statement. The weather was hot, dry and windy, making it difficult for firefighters to contain the blaze. One person died in their home, and at least 13 others were injured, including 11 firefighters, local authorities said. One person who was initially described as missing has been located and is safe. 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 met firefighters and residents at Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, where the fire service's command post has been set up. The Environment Ministry said the Aude region has been experiencing a drought this month, with water use restrictions in place. Lack of rainfall in recent months "played a major role in the spreading of the fire, since the vegetation is very dry", the statement 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.
