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Wildfire in southern France burns 10,000 hectares and injures several
A massive wildfire of unprecedented intensity continues to rage across the Corbières mountains in southern France, consuming over 10,000 hectares of vegetation and leaving at least nine people injured, one of them in critical condition, according to local authorities.
The blaze began around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and quickly spread due to strong gusts of wind. Emergency services were forced to close the A9 highway — the main road link between France and Spain — as a precautionary measure. Firefighters are now focusing their efforts along this route in hopes of halting the flames.
Nearby, two tourist campsites hosting around 500 people in La Palme were evacuated. In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, houses were damaged and several vehicles burned. Witnesses described how the fire, driven by sudden winds, surrounded the village within minutes.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed his support via social media, stating that “all national resources are mobilized” and calling for extreme caution.
A total of 1,250 firefighters are deployed, including aerial support with nine Canadair planes, five Dash aircraft, and two water-bombing helicopters. Seven firefighters suffered minor injuries. Authorities hope that cooler nighttime conditions will slow the spread.
The Aude department remains on red alert due to extreme fire risk amid ongoing drought and heatwaves. The region has already experienced multiple wildfires this summer, including one in July that scorched 2,000 hectares — the worst in 40 years.