A devastating wildfire sweeping through southern France has been brought under control but will continue to burn for several days, authorities said. The massive fire, which has burned over 17,000 hectares, is the largest in France since 1949 and has claimed one life and injured 13 people.
Deployed firefighters and personnel are working tirelessly to contain the blaze, with water-bombing aircraft also being used to tackle the flames. Roads in the affected area remain hazardous due to fallen electricity lines and other hazards, making it inaccessible for now.
Residents have been urged not to return home while operations continue, and 17 temporary accommodation sites have been set up for those displaced. Villages in the Corbieres region are on high alert, with French authorities linking the fire to global warming and drought.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou has described the blaze as a “catastrophe on an unprecedented scale,” while Environment Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher has also linked it to climate change. President Emmanuel Macron has mobilized the nation’s resources to combat the fire, urging caution from the public.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2vk4xl204o