"Access Banned Until Sunday": Worst Wildfire in 75 Years Burns Area 1.5 Times the Size of Paris

One Dead and 13 Injured
Area Burned Exceeds 1.5 Times the Size of Paris
"Full Containment Expected to Take More Time"

Flames engulf the Hauts-de-France region. Photo by AFP

A massive wildfire has broken out in southern France, burning an area larger than one and a half times the size of Paris and spreading to the worst extent in 75 years. Authorities expect that it will take several more days before the flames are fully extinguished.

According to the BBC on August 8 (local time), the wildfire started on August 6 in the Aude region of southern France. French authorities have deployed more than 2,000 firefighters and 500 firefighting vehicles so far. Gendarmerie and military personnel have also been mobilized at the scene.

So far, the wildfire has resulted in the death of one woman and injuries to a total of 13 people, including 11 firefighters. Among the injured, two are in critical condition.

Local authorities stated that while the fire is currently under control, it will likely take several more days to achieve complete containment. Christian Pouget, the governor of Aude, said, "It will take a few more days before we can declare the fire completely extinguished," adding, "There is still much work to be done."

Flames engulf the Oise region in France. Photo by AFP

The wildfire has so far burned more than 17,000 hectares (170 square kilometers) of land. Authorities have banned access to the affected forest areas until Sunday and warned that roads in the region are extremely dangerous due to fallen power lines and other hazards.

According to local French media, this wildfire is the largest in France since 1949. Recent dry forests, strong winds, and hot weather are believed to have contributed to the spread of the flames. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou visited the Aude region on August 7 and described the fire as "a disaster of unprecedented scale," citing global warming and drought as the causes of the wildfire.

Jacques Pirot, the mayor of Jonquieres, a village where many homes have been destroyed by the fire, told the French outlet Le Monde, "Eighty percent of the village has burned," adding, "It's terrible. Every tree has been completely blackened."

French President Emmanuel Macron stated, "We are mobilizing all national resources," and urged, "Please exercise the utmost caution."