Southern France is grappling with its most extensive wildfire in more than 50 years, as flames continue to burn in the Aude region despite containment efforts, leaving thousands still unable to return home.

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Wildfires Destroy Over 16,000 Hectares in Southern France

A wildfire that erupted this week in Aude has scorched more than 17,000 hectares—surpassing the size of Paris—making it the most destructive in France’s Mediterranean region in decades. Although fire crews brought the blaze under control on Thursday night, authorities say the situation remains critical.

“The fire will not be declared extinguished for several days,” said Christian Pouget, prefect of Aude. Hazardous conditions, including downed power lines and unstable terrain, have led officials to restrict access to burned forest areas until at least Sunday.

Roughly 2,000 people remain displaced. Hundreds are sheltering in school gymnasiums and community centers while awaiting clearance to return to their homes.

The fire has claimed one life—a 65-year-old woman who ignored evacuation orders—and injured 13 others, including 11 firefighters.

At its peak, the blaze advanced at a rate of 1,000 hectares per hour, fueled by dry vegetation and erratic winds. Nearly 2,000 firefighters remain mobilized in the area.

The scale of destruction has drawn national attention. Prime Minister François Bayrou, visiting the affected zone on Wednesday, described the event as “a catastrophe on an unprecedented scale.” He directly linked the fire’s intensity to environmental conditions: “What is happening today is linked to global warming and linked to drought.”

Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher stated on social media that the wildfire is the largest recorded in France since 1949. Government data indicates that approximately 9,000 wildfires have occurred this summer, mostly in coastal Mediterranean areas.

Aude has experienced increasing fire risks in recent years, driven by declining rainfall and land use changes such as the removal of vineyards that once helped slow fire spread. In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, the worst-hit village, smoke continued rising Thursday from pine-covered hills and still-burning grasslands.

The crisis in France comes amid a new wave of heat across southern Europe. Portugal extended emergency measures on Thursday in anticipation of worsening fire conditions. In Spain, fire crews near Tarifa controlled a major blaze that consumed hundreds of hectares and threatened tourist zones.

Climate researchers warn that rising global temperatures are intensifying and prolonging heatwaves, creating more favorable conditions for wildfires across the continent.

As the region braces for further heatwaves, French authorities remain on high alert. The wildfire in Aude stands as a stark indicator of the growing threat posed by climate change to Mediterranean landscapes and communities.

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