France is currently battling the country’s largest wildfire in 80 years in the Aude region in the south of the country near the Spanish border. The second day of the blaze is spreading rapidly, covering an area larger than Paris.
According to the local prefecture, one person has died in the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, located around 30 kilometres from Perpignan. The wildfire has swept through villages and forested areas, destroying at least 25 homes and prompting the evacuation of both residents and tourists to safer areas. Several roads in the region have been closed.
Prime Minister François Bayrou, speaking in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, described the incident as a “breathtakingly vast tragedy.”
“The disaster is a disaster of unprecedented scale,” Bayrou told journalists during a visit of the affected town, adding that an investigation on the cause of the blaze was ongoing.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that the fire has so far destroyed more than 15,000 hectares of land – equivalent to the total area burned in recent years by wildfires across France. He added that this is the largest area affected by a wildfire in the country since 1949.
The prefecture reported that the fire is spreading rapidly, with approximately 2,000 firefighters mobilised to contain the blaze. As a result of the fire, more than 2,500 homes in the region are without electricity.
Fire service spokesperson Éric Brocardi told RTL radio that the fire is advancing at a speed of 5.5 kilometres per hour (around 3.4 miles per hour).
Scientists say the Mediterranean region's hotter, drier summers put it at high risk of wildfires. Once fires start, plentiful dry vegetation and strong winds in the region can cause them to spread rapidly and burn out of control.
“Today's event is linked to global warming and drought. We need to think about this with local elected officials and professional leader… We need to think about what tomorrow might bring," Bayrou said.
Iranian authorities say about 2,000 people have been killed during more than two weeks of nationwide anti-government protests, marking the first time ...
Boeing booked more aircraft orders than Airbus in 2025 for the first time since 2018, official figures showed, even as the European manufacturer deliv...
Business and political leaders are gathering in Davos for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting as uncertainty over the global economic and poli...
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Tuesday that authorities seized 6,850 kilograms of drugs in the southern state of Bolívar as pa...
Greenlanders voiced support for diplomacy ahead of high-level talks in Washington on Wednesday, following renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Tru...
Boeing booked more aircraft orders than Airbus in 2025 for the first time since 2018, official figures showed, even as the European manufacturer delivered more planes during the year.
Business and political leaders are gathering in Davos for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting as uncertainty over the global economic and political order deepens, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies challenging long-standing international norms.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Tuesday that authorities seized 6,850 kilograms of drugs in the southern state of Bolívar as part of an anti-narcotics operation earlier this month.
Greenlanders voiced support for diplomacy ahead of high-level talks in Washington on Wednesday, following renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to take control of the Arctic territory.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Iranian authorities have taken steps to disrupt access to Starlink satellite internet, according to users and digital-rights groups, in what appears to be the latest effort to tighten control over people’s access to the internet inside the country.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
The United Nations’ top court at The Hague has begun hearings on whether Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority. Gambia told judges on Monday that Myanmar targeted minority Muslim Rohingya for destruction and made their lives a nightmare in a landmark case.
Iranian authorities say about 2,000 people have been killed during more than two weeks of nationwide anti-government protests, marking the first time officials have given an overall death toll from the unrest.
Boeing booked more aircraft orders than Airbus in 2025 for the first time since 2018, official figures showed, even as the European manufacturer delivered more planes during the year.
Business and political leaders are gathering in Davos for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting as uncertainty over the global economic and political order deepens, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies challenging long-standing international norms.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on Tuesday that authorities seized 6,850 kilograms of drugs in the southern state of Bolívar as part of an anti-narcotics operation earlier this month.
Greenlanders voiced support for diplomacy ahead of high-level talks in Washington on Wednesday, following renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to take control of the Arctic territory.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment