The largest forest fire in France in 75 years is ongoing
The largest forest fire observed in France in the last 75 years has not yet been fully extinguished. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
The fire started on Tuesday, covering a larger area than Paris, near the village of Ribaute. As a result of the incident, one woman lost her life, and 13 people, including 11 firefighters, were injured, two of whom are in serious condition.
More than 2,000 firefighters, 500 pieces of equipment, and army personnel have been mobilized to extinguish the fire. Water-dropping planes and helicopters have brought flames in an area of over 17,000 hectares under control, but full extinguishment will take several days.
Access to the forests in the area is prohibited until at least Sunday, as there are fallen power lines and other hazardous situations on the roads. Local authorities are advising citizens not to return to their homes, and temporary accommodation points have been established.
Prime Minister François Bayrou described the fire as an unprecedented disaster, linking it to global warming and drought. The Minister of the Environment also emphasized that climate change has played a significant role in the spread of the fire.
Strong winds and dry vegetation are causing the fire to spread rapidly. Approximately 80 percent of the village of Joncieres has been affected by the fire.
President Emmanuel Macron announced that all state resources have been mobilized and reminded the public to take maximum precautions.
