Major Wildfire in Southern France Destroys Over 17,000 Hectares, Evacuations Underway
A devastating wildfire in southern France’s Aude region has consumed more than 17,000 hectares, resulting in the evacuation of thousands of residents and amplifying concerns over the escalating climate crisis, reports 24brussels.
This fire, now described as the most destructive in over 50 years, has progressed rapidly, surpassing the size of Paris. Although firefighting crews managed to bring the blaze under partial control on Thursday evening, the situation remains dire, with authorities declaring a critical status.
“The fire will not be declared extinguished for several days,” stated Christian Pouget, the prefect of Aude. Hazardous conditions, including fallen power lines and unstable ground, have restricted access to affected forest areas until at least Sunday.
Approximately 2,000 individuals remain displaced, with many taking shelter in school gymnasiums and community centers while awaiting authorization to return home. The wildfire has claimed one life—a 65-year-old woman who failed to heed evacuation orders—and left 13 others injured, including 11 firefighters.
At its height, the blaze expanded at an alarming rate of 1,000 hectares per hour, exacerbated by dry vegetation and unpredictable winds. Nearly 2,000 firefighters are currently deployed in the region.
The scale of destruction prompted national scrutiny. Prime Minister François Bayrou, who visited the zone on Wednesday, described the situation as “a catastrophe on an unprecedented scale,” linking the fire’s severity to adverse environmental conditions. “What is happening today is linked to global warming and linked to drought,” he affirmed.
Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher highlighted on social media that this wildfire is the largest recorded in France since 1949. Government reports indicate that approximately 9,000 wildfires have occurred this summer, predominantly affecting coastal Mediterranean areas.
In recent years, Aude has witnessed an increase in fire hazards due to decreasing rainfall and changes in land use, including the removal of vineyards that previously helped mitigate fire spread. In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, the village hardest hit, smoke continues to billow from burning grasslands and pine-covered hills.
This crisis unfolds amid a fresh wave of heat sweeping across southern Europe. In response to worsening fire threats, Portugal extended emergency measures, while in Spain, firefighting teams have managed to control a significant blaze near Tarifa that ravaged hundreds of hectares and threatened tourist areas.
Climate experts assert that rising global temperatures are exacerbating and prolonging heatwaves, creating increasingly favorable conditions for wildfires throughout Europe. As the region prepares for more heat, French authorities remain on alert. The ongoing wildfire serves as a stark reminder of the mounting threat climate change poses to Mediterranean ecosystems and communities.
