‘Unprecedented’ wildfire burns area size of Paris in southern France | France

Hundreds of firefighters were struggling to stop the spread of a fast -moving forest fire in Southern France after a woman died, and nine people were injured while roasting a large area of the Corbières Hills of the fire.

Blaze burned a Paris -sized space in the afternoon and overnight, and it was still burning on Wednesday evening, and in 50 years it was the second largest fire in France.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who visited the region, described the fire as a dışılaştırı unprecedented disaster ”.

“What happens today is linked to climate change and drought,” he said.

The fire, which began in the afternoon of Tuesday, burned 16,000 hectares (39,537 acres) from the Mediterranean near the Spanish border. He started in the village of Ribaute in the Aude department of Corbières, which is famous for its Bağlar and Medieval villages.

According to Aude, a woman died in her house and a person was in a critical state with severe burns. A few firefighters were injured. At least 25 houses were destroyed or damaged. Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

The Ministry of Environment said that the fire destroyed the same amount of land within 24 hours and that forest fires typically burned in France within a year.

“This is an extraordinary fire showing the scale of the results of the climate crisis,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Local officials said that the forest fire remained “very active” on Wednesday.

Jacques Piraux, the mayor of the village of Jonquières, said that all residents were evacuated. “This is a scene of sadness and desolation,” the publisher said to BFM TV. “It looks like a moon view, everything was burned. More than three -quarters of the village burned. Hell.”

Lucie Rousch, the Secretary General of the State of Aude, said: “Fire is moving in an area where all conditions are maturing. We are watching the edges and the back of the fire to prevent glare.”

The planes were dropping water to the flames, but Roonsch said: “This fire will engage us for a few days. A long -term operation.”

Authorities, strong winds, increasing temperatures and dry vegetation in the region due to the weather conditions are expected to remain negative, he said.

Camping areas and at least one village were partially evacuated and several roads were closed. Residents and tourists were asked to stay in their homes unless they were told to leave by firefighters. Some tourists evacuated from the camp sites spent the night in municipal buildings.

One person told France 2 TV: ım I wanted to go back to my house to get my belongings, but I couldn’t go in. We are waiting to see what the damage was. When I went, there were flames at the bottom of the house. ”

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media: “All the country’s resources have been mobilized.” He called on people to use “very careful”.

In particular, the Aude department has experienced an increase in aggravated fires with the removal of grape bonds, which helps to slow down low rainfall and progress.

Aude Dame, who lives in the town of Fabrezan, told Agency France-Presse that the frequency of fire damages the residents. Orum I think it is tragic to see so many fire since the beginning of summer, ”he said. “Wildlife is terrible for flora and people who lose everything.”

Approximately 300 people were injured in a forest fire that reached the southern port city of Marseille last month.

Southern Europe had great fires this summer. According to the European Forest Fire Information System, fires have burned more than 25,700 hectares of Portugal since the beginning of 2025. There are also forest fires in Spain, Türkiye, Greece and the Balkans.

Scientists say that climatic distribution worse the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness and makes the region more vulnerable to forest fires. Europe world Fastest heated continentAccording to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, temperatures have increased twice the global average since the 1980s.

Agent France-Presse contributed to this report