PARIS, Aug 6: France is battling its largest wildfire of the summer, which broke out Tuesday afternoon in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, near the Spanish border. The fast-moving blaze has already burned more than 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres)—an area larger than Paris—and continues to spread rapidly due to hot, dry, and windy conditions.
Authorities confirmed that one person died in their home, nine others were injured, including seven firefighters, and at least one person is still missing.
Around 2,000 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft are working to contain the fire, which remains “very active.” Entire villages, including Jonquières, have been evacuated. Mayor Jacques Piraux described the aftermath as “hellish,” saying, “It looks like a lunar landscape, everything is burned. More than half or three-quarters of the village has burned down.” Residents and tourists in nearby areas have been urged to stay indoors unless told to evacuate by emergency crews. Two campsites were also evacuated as a precaution.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou is expected to visit the affected area. The fire comes weeks after a separate blaze in Marseille injured around 300 people.
Southern Europe has seen an increase in wildfires this summer, which scientists link to climate change, warning that rising temperatures and prolonged droughts are making such events more frequent and intense. (AP)
