Hundreds of firefighters are struggling to contain a fast-moving wildfire sweeping through southern France, in what has become the country’s largest and most intense blaze of the summer. One woman has died and nine others have been injured, as the inferno scorched through 13,000 hectares of the Corbières hills in the Aude department.
The wildfire ignited on Tuesday afternoon in the village of Ribaute and quickly spread through the dry, wooded terrain inland from the Mediterranean, near the Spanish border. The area, known for its picturesque vineyards and medieval villages, has been left devastated.
Local authorities described the fire as “very active” on Wednesday, with conditions continuing to hamper efforts to contain the flames. The blaze has already destroyed or damaged at least 25 homes, with multiple residents and tourists evacuated, and several roads shut.
Wildfire causes death, village evacuation
A woman died in her home, while another individual is in critical condition with severe burns. Several firefighters have also sustained injuries during the operation.
“This fire will keep us busy for several days. It’s a long-term operation,” warned Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture. Water-dropping aircraft have been deployed, but strong winds, soaring temperatures and dry vegetation continue to fuel the flames.
Camping grounds and at least one village have been partially evacuated. Some tourists displaced from campsites spent the night in local municipal buildings. Residents have been advised to remain indoors unless instructed otherwise by emergency services.
President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media, urging people to exercise “the utmost caution” and confirming that “all of the nation’s resources are mobilised.” Prime Minister François Bayrou was expected to visit the affected region on Wednesday afternoon.
The Aude department has become increasingly vulnerable to wildfires in recent years, with climate change, low rainfall and the removal of fire-buffering vineyards exacerbating the risk.
The situation reflects a wider crisis across southern Europe. Portugal has lost over 25,700 hectares to wildfires since the beginning of 2025, and similar blazes have erupted across Spain, Turkey, Greece and the Balkans.
Climate scientists warn that such events are becoming more common and more destructive. Europe is currently the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising at twice the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
