Southern France Wildfire Kills One, Injures 13, Spans Multiple Towns

A massive wildfire in the Aude region of southern France has become the largest recorded in decades, burning over 16,000 hectares—an area larger than Paris—and has resulted in one confirmed death and 13 injuries, including 11 firefighters. The fire, described as a disaster of unprecedented scale by Prime Minister François Bayrou, who visited the affected area, has spread across 15 towns and cities and damaged or destroyed numerous homes, forcing evacuations and road closures. Officials attribute the severity of the blaze to drought conditions, rising temperatures, and possibly roadside activities, all exacerbated by broader trends linked to global warming. Despite the deployment of around 2,100 firefighters, 500 vehicles, and aerial water bombers, the fire remains very active due to unfavorable weather, including hot, dry, and windy conditions, with no rain forecast in the near future. European officials, including the European Commission president, have expressed readiness to provide additional resources to combat the wildfire. Similar heatwaves and wildfires are affecting other parts of Europe, such as Spain, Greece, and Turkey, highlighting the growing challenges posed by climate change.