Latest news Forest fire in the south of France: light winds help firefighters
The huge wildfire in the south of France is no longer spreading quite so strongly. The spread has slowed down, the local prefecture announced this morning.
07.08.2025, 09:43
SDA
Without wind and with lower temperatures, the weather conditions were favorable during the night. It is hoped that the fire that broke out in Ribaute will be brought under control during the course of the day, said Christophe Magny from the fire department on BFMTV.
Since Tuesday afternoon, the fire has spread over 16,000 hectares in the French department of Aude. "Since 1949, this is undoubtedly the fire that has destroyed the most hectares of land," said France's Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. 15 municipalities are affected by the fire. More than 2,100 firefighters are still battling the flames. One senior citizen died in the fire and several people were injured. Three people are still missing.
Ribaute is located in the southern French region of Occitania, roughly between Narbonne and Carcassonne. The fire spread quickly in the mountainous Corbières region due to the dry conditions and strong winds. It is still unclear how the fire started.
