The southern part of France is currently being ravaged by the largest wildfire in the country since 1949, resulting in the death of one local.
Strong winds caused the fire to spread quickly after it began close to Aude region’s La Ribaute village.
More than 15 thousand hectares have burnt, and more than 2,000 firefighters and water-bombing aircrafts have been sent in, according to French Minister François Bayrou.
According to reports, this is the maximum personnel and resources that can be dispatched from all of southern France.
In her post on X, French Ecology Minister Agnes Runacher stated that this is equivalent to all wildfires that burnt in 2024 and double of 2023.
The severe heatwaves and increasing temperatures in the country are said to be the cause of the fire.
About 25,000 houses are currently without electricity, and 25 houses have already burned down, with more expected to be destroyed in the fires.
Evacuating residents were moved to seventeen temporary housing locations.
French Minister Emmanuel Macron has also extended his condolences to victims of the fire and advised everyone to exercise caution and obey officials’ directives. The effects of the fire are already being felt by residents up to 30 kilometers away from the fire.—Isa Estrellado, Eurotv News