France: One dead and 13 injured as fire rages on after burning 42,000 acres
A 65-year-old woman died at her home in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, and thirteen others were injured, including eleven firefighters.
French firefighters in southwestern France.
The forest fire that ignited Tuesday in the mountainous area near Narbonne is the largest recorded in France this summer. Fifteen municipalities in southern France have been affected, and the fire remains active in several sectors.
This Thursday, authorities mobilized several seaplanes to work throughout the day to stabilize the fire that has burned 42,000 acres in just three days.
A 65-year-old woman died at her home in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse and 13 others were injured, including 11 firefighters, according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Prime Minister François Bayrou described the fire as a "catastrophe of unprecedented magnitude."
Authorities have also deployed more than 2,000 troops to assist in firefighting efforts. “The objective is to stabilize the fire,” Christophe Magny, fire chief of the Aude department, told AFP.
After spreading rapidly in the first few days, the fire’s advance has slowed in recent hours, but firefighters warn that strong gusts of wind could cause it to flare up again.
"Our strategy is to act fast and strong before the wind picks up," Aude firefighters said.
The causes of the fire are being sought to be determined
On Wednesday, the French Prime Minister suggested that the current fire may have started near a roadside and attributed its severity to “climate change” and “drought.”
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has opened an investigation to determine the fire’s cause, though no leads are currently being favored.
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