A devastating wildfire is tearing through the Aude department in southwestern France, scorching over 11,000 hectares and claiming at least one life. The blaze, described as the largest forest fire France has seen in a significant time, ignited Tuesday, trapping residents and forcing evacuations.
The inferno has already devoured a staggering 11,000 hectares of land. Tragically, a resident was found dead in their home in Saint-Laurent-de-La-Cabrerisse. In addition to this fatality, two civilians sustained injuries, with one requiring urgent medical attention.
The destructive force of the flames has also damaged or destroyed 25 homes. Seven firefighters have been injured while battling the blaze, and two of them have been transported to a hospital, according to Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture. Fifteen municipalities are currently affected by the fire, which continues to spread rapidly due to dry and windy conditions.
A massive deployment of 1,500 firefighters has been working through the night, with an additional 320 personnel en route to support the efforts. The severe conditions have also led to the closure of the A9 highway between Perpignan Nord and Narbonne.
