Hundreds of firefighters are working hard to control a huge wildfire in southern France. Officials say it’s the worst the country has seen in many years.
Prime Minister François Bayrou, who visited the area on Wednesday, called it a “catastrophe on an unprecedented scale.” Civil defense chief Julien Marion said it’s the biggest fire since 1949.
The fire ignited on Tueasday afternoon near Ribaute in the Aude region. The fire quickly grew because of the very hot weather and strong winds. 16,000 hectares have been burned by the fire across 15 towns.
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One person has died, and two civilians along with 11 firefighters were injured. Two people are in critical condition, and three are still missing.
Like many parts of Europe, southern France is suffering from a very hot summer. Prime Minister Bayrou said climate change and drought have made the fire worse. “The latest fires in France have been driven and made worse by climate change and drought,” he told reporters.
Several homes and about 40 vehicles have been damaged or destroyed.
Over 2,100 firefighters, along with the military and aircraft, are trying to stop the fire. Better weather overnight helped them slow it down by Thursday morning. But people are still being told to stay inside or leave if told to evacuate.
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France’s weather service says the risk of more fires remains high on Thursday and Friday. Another heatwave is expected from Friday to early next week. Strong winds between 25 and 31 miles per hour are also expected in the Aude region, which could make fighting the fire harder.
