France: France’s largest wildfire in nearly 80 years has engulfed parts of the southern Aude region, burning more than 15,000 hectares and forcing evacuations across several villages.
The blaze, which has spread faster than expected, has already destroyed at least 25 homes, leaving one person dead and many displaced. The fire has broken out near Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, about 30 kilometres from Perpignan, where authorities have reported the most severe damage.
French firefighters, nearly 2,000 strong, are working around the clock to bring the blaze under control, but shifting winds and dry conditions are making containment efforts difficult. Approximately 2,500 homes in the region are currently without electricity.
#FeuxDeForêt I Dans l’#Aude, l'incendie déclaré hier a désormais parcouru 13 000 hectares.
L’intervention est toujours en cours, sous la coordination de la préfecture @Prefet11.
Près de 2 000 sapeurs-pompiers et sapeurs-sauveteurs sont mobilisés avec d’importants moyens.
☎️… pic.twitter.com/tR18SmmeaC
— Ministère de l'Intérieur (@Interieur_Gouv) August 6, 2025
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has described the situation as a ‘catastrophe of unprecedented scale’ during a visit to the affected area. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that the fire has already consumed as much land as several previous years combined, marking it as the worst single wildfire France has seen since 1949.
Authorities are warning that the wildfire is moving at a speed of 5.5 kilometres per hour, leaving little time for residents to evacuate. The hot, dry Mediterranean climate and strong winds are contributing to the spread, with experts warning that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters.
Meanwhile, neighbouring countries are also facing extreme conditions. Spain is experiencing a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures reaching 43 degrees Celsius in some areas and wildfires flaring across the south. In Portugal, over 42,000 hectares have burned this year, eight times more than the same period last year. Emergency crews are struggling to contain the fast-spreading blazes.
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