France battles deadliest wildfire of the summer, one dead and 13 injured

Wednesday 06 August 2025 - 17:45

France is currently facing its most devastating wildfire of the summer, which has already scorched over 16,000 hectares of vegetation in just 24 hours. The massive blaze, raging near the southern town of Narbonne, has claimed the life of a 65-year-old woman and injured at least 13 others, including firefighters.

The fire, intensified by high temperatures, strong winds, and prolonged drought, has forced the closure of the A9 highway connecting France and Spain. Though reopened temporarily, conditions remain unstable. Authorities report that 25 homes and 35 vehicles have been destroyed or damaged across 15 affected municipalities.

Officials warn that the fire’s direction has changed, now heading back toward its point of origin due to shifting winds. A massive emergency response has been deployed, with over 2,000 firefighters and 500 vehicles on the ground, alongside aerial firefighting units. The EU has declared its readiness to support France if needed.

An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the fire, which remains unknown. Meanwhile, over 2,500 households remain without electricity, and hundreds of residents evacuated on Tuesday have not yet been able to return home.

The government, including Prime Minister François Bayrou and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, is visiting the disaster area. Experts link the increasing frequency and severity of such fires to human-induced climate change.

In Spain, similar fires have erupted, particularly in Tarifa, where over 1,500 people were evacuated due to another forest fire amid an intense heatwave.