France’s largest forest fire in the last 75 years has not yet been fully extinguished. The blaze, which has covered an area larger than Paris, began on Tuesday near the village of Ribaute. One woman has died, and 13 people, including 11 firefighters, have been injured, two of them critically.
More than 2,000 firefighters, 500 vehicles, and army personnel have been deployed to tackle the fire. Using water-bombing planes and helicopters, the flames covering more than 17,000 hectares have been brought under control, but officials say it will take several more days to completely extinguish the fire.
Access to forests in the area has been banned until at least Sunday, and roads remain dangerous due to fallen power lines and other hazards. Local authorities are advising residents not to return home, and temporary accommodation centers have been opened.
Prime Minister François Bayrou called the fire “a catastrophe on an unprecedented scale” and linked it to global warming and drought. The Environment Minister also noted the role of climate change. Strong winds and dry vegetation have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
Around 80% of the village of Jonquières has been damaged by the fire. President Emmanuel Macron announced that all state resources have been mobilized and reminded citizens to exercise maximum caution.
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