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| France's largest wildfire for 75 years still not under control, officials say | France's largest wildfire for 75 years still not under control, officials say |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Firefighters in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse have been battling flames on Thursday after the fire spread through forests and villages in the Aude region of southern France | Firefighters in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse have been battling flames on Thursday after the fire spread through forests and villages in the Aude region of southern France |
| France's largest wildfire for 75 years, which has burned through an area larger than Paris, has slowed overnight but is not yet under control, officials have said. | France's largest wildfire for 75 years, which has burned through an area larger than Paris, has slowed overnight but is not yet under control, officials have said. |
| More than 2,000 firefighters and 500 firefighting vehicles continue to be deployed to the Aude region, alongside gendarmerie and army personnel, officials said on Thursday. | More than 2,000 firefighters and 500 firefighting vehicles continue to be deployed to the Aude region, alongside gendarmerie and army personnel, officials said on Thursday. |
| An woman has died and 13 people, including 11 firefighters, have been injured, with two in a critical condition, since the fire broke out near the village of Ribaute in southern France on Tuesday. | |
| Three people have also been reported missing by their relatives and dozens of homes have been destroyed, the Aude prefecture added. | Three people have also been reported missing by their relatives and dozens of homes have been destroyed, the Aude prefecture added. |
| Christophe Magny, one of the officials leading the firefighting operation told local media outlet France Info on Thursday that firefighters hoped to contain the wildfire later in the day. | Christophe Magny, one of the officials leading the firefighting operation told local media outlet France Info on Thursday that firefighters hoped to contain the wildfire later in the day. |
| Images overnight showed firefighters tackling the 16,000 hectare (62sq miles) blaze, which officials said had lost intensity since Wednesday due to wind and lower temperatures. | Images overnight showed firefighters tackling the 16,000 hectare (62sq miles) blaze, which officials said had lost intensity since Wednesday due to wind and lower temperatures. |
| Water-bombing aircraft have also helped tackle the flames. | Water-bombing aircraft have also helped tackle the flames. |
| A combined 130 water drops were made on Wednesday by helicopters and planes in a bid to douse flames | A combined 130 water drops were made on Wednesday by helicopters and planes in a bid to douse flames |
| Smoke from the fires and large areas of burnt land could be seen from satellite images on Thursday, highlighting the scale of the devastation across the region. | Smoke from the fires and large areas of burnt land could be seen from satellite images on Thursday, highlighting the scale of the devastation across the region. |
| Residents have been urged not to return home while operations continue, with 17 temporary accommodation sites opened up. | Residents have been urged not to return home while operations continue, with 17 temporary accommodation sites opened up. |
| Villages in the Corbieres region remain on high alert, according to French media. | Villages in the Corbieres region remain on high alert, according to French media. |
| Officials say the wildfire is the largest in France since 1949, with French Prime Minister François Bayrou calling it a "catastrophe on an unprecedented scale". | Officials say the wildfire is the largest in France since 1949, with French Prime Minister François Bayrou calling it a "catastrophe on an unprecedented scale". |
| During a visit to the Aude region on Wednesday, Bayrou said the fire was connected to global warming and drought. | During a visit to the Aude region on Wednesday, Bayrou said the fire was connected to global warming and drought. |
| Environment Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher also linked the blaze to climate change. | Environment Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher also linked the blaze to climate change. |
| Officials said on Wednesday the fire's quick advance was driven by strong winds, dry vegetation and hot summer weather. | Officials said on Wednesday the fire's quick advance was driven by strong winds, dry vegetation and hot summer weather. |
| Jacques Piraud, mayor of the village of Jonquières, where several houses burned down, told Le Monde that around 80% of the village was burnt. | Jacques Piraud, mayor of the village of Jonquières, where several houses burned down, told Le Monde that around 80% of the village was burnt. |
| "It's dramatic. It's black, the trees are completely charred," he said. | "It's dramatic. It's black, the trees are completely charred," he said. |
| French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that "all of the nation's resources are mobilised," and called on people to exercise "the utmost caution". | French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that "all of the nation's resources are mobilised," and called on people to exercise "the utmost caution". |