Southern France Wildfire Kills One Injures Eleven Burns Over 12,000 Hectares

A massive wildfire in southern France's Aude department has killed one elderly woman who refused to evacuate her home, injured at least nine others including two with serious burns, and left one person missing. The fire, which began on Tuesday, has scorched over 12,000 hectares and damaged or destroyed around 25 homes, prompting evacuations of villages and campsites in the region. More than 1,800 firefighters, supported by planes and helicopters, are battling the blaze under challenging conditions of strong winds, rising temperatures, and dry vegetation, with several roads including the A9 motorway closed. President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou have mobilized national resources and called for extreme caution. Power outages have affected approximately 2,500 households, and authorities continue to monitor the fire’s edges to prevent flare-ups. The situation remains critical with firefighting efforts expected to continue for several days due to the fire's size and intensity.