France’s biggest wildfire this summer was spreading quickly on Wednesday in a Mediterranean region near the Spanish border, resulting in one fatality, according to authorities.
Approximately 2,000 firefighters, aided by multiple water bomber aircraft, were battling the blaze that ignited on Tuesday afternoon near the village of Ribaute in the Aude region. This rural, wooded area is known for its vineyards.
The wildfire remained “very active” on Wednesday, with unfavorable weather conditions hindering containment efforts, the local administration stated.
Tragically, one person died in their home, while nine others sustained injuries, including seven firefighters. At least one person remains missing, authorities reported.
The Interior Ministry indicated that the fire had consumed over 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres), surpassing the area of Paris.
Jacques Piraux, the mayor of Jonquieres, reported that all residents had been evacuated.
“It’s a scene of sadness and desolation,” he told BFM TV after assessing the damage on 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 surrounding areas were advised to remain indoors unless specifically instructed to evacuate by firefighters.
Two campsites were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was scheduled to visit the affected area on Wednesday afternoon, according to his office.
Last month, a significant wildfire reached the southern port of Marseille, France’s second-largest city, injuring approximately 300 people.
Southern Europe has experienced numerous large fires this summer season.
Scientists emphasize that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, increasing the region’s susceptibility to wildfires.
Europe is warming faster than any other continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the global average since the 1980s, as reported by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
