Deadly wildfires strike France as huge blaze continues to spread
France battles ‘very active’ fire spreading across south of country
- A fast-moving wildfire in the Aude region of France, near the Spanish border, has resulted in one fatality, nine injuries, and one person reported missing.
- The blaze, which erupted on Tuesday afternoon, has consumed 11,000 hectares of land, an area roughly the size of Paris, making it the largest wildfire in France this summer.
- Around 1,500 firefighters have been deployed to contain the inferno, which remains 'very active' due to challenging weather conditions.
- Southern Europe has been experiencing numerous large wildfires this summer, with Spain and Portugal also battling extensive blazes.
- Scientists attribute the increased frequency and intensity of these fires to climate change, noting that Europe is warming at twice the global average.