News update - A devastating wildfire in southern France has burned through more than 16,000 hectares of vegetation in the Aude region, an area larger than the city of Paris, in what officials are calling the most severe fire the country has seen since 1949. Firefighters, who have been battling the blaze since Tuesday afternoon, are hoping to finally contain it today. The fire’s spread has slowed slightly thanks to cooler temperatures and lighter winds.
The human toll has been tragic. A 65-year-old woman who refused to evacuate was found dead in her home in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse. Thirteen others have been injured, including two civilians, one seriously burned, and eleven firefighters, one of whom suffered a head injury. Officials say 36 homes and about 40 vehicles have been damaged or destroyed so far. Over 2,100 firefighters and 500 vehicles are on the ground.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Prime Minister François Bayrou visited the area, with Bayrou describing the disaster as a “catastrophe of unprecedented scale.” Meanwhile, local residents remain on high alert as the fire continues to threaten villages in the Corbières massif. Three people are still reported missing. The scale and intensity of the fire have made it exceptionally difficult to control. Authorities continue to urge caution, warning that the situation, while stabilising, remains extremely volatile.
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