Since it broke out at 4.15 pm on Tuesday in Ribaute, the fire has spread to a lightning speed in the Aude. This Wednesday at midday, the The toll is heavy : 13,000 hectares covered, 15 affected local authorities, 1 person has died, 9 people injured, and a claim that is still uncontrolled.
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Fire is still very active and powered by adverse weather conditions : heat, extreme drought and strong winds. This is now the the biggest fire of the summer in France.
One fatality and several injured; emergency services are working flat out
The victim is a elderly woman found dead at her home in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse. According to the authorities, she had refused to evacuate despite the instructions from the emergency services. A no one is in a state of absolute emergency, who suffered severe burns, whilst seven firefighters were poisoned during the operations. One person is still missing.
In total, 1,800 firefighters are engaged on the front line, supported by 4 Canadair, 2 dashes and some water-bombing helicopters. The fire affected 25 homes and around thirty vehicles were destroyed by the fire.
Villages affected, roads closed
15 local authorities have been affected by the fire, in particular Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, Tournissan, Fabrezan, La Palme and Roquefort-des-Corbières. TheA9 motorway is enclosed between Narbonne and Perpignan, as well as numerous county roads, making access to the area extremely difficult.
Some precautionary evacuations were organised, notably in campsites in La Palme. The authorities are calling for people to stay at home in high-risk areas, and to avoid travelling.
The Prime Minister is expected to arrive this afternoon
The Prime Minister François Bayrou and the François-Noël Buffet, Minister for the Interior are expected this afternoon at the scene of the incident, according to the Home Office, “as soon as this is possible without disrupting the work of the emergency services on the ground”.
Fire is not still not decided at midday, and the emergency services fear that frequent reactivations. A new heatwave is expected this afternoon, making the task even more difficult.