Massive wildfire sweeps southern France, forcing evacuations as heatwave intensifies

A massive wildfire is raging across southern France, consuming an area larger than Paris. The blaze has already destroyed forests, villages and homes, forcing residents and tourists to evacuate. With nearly 2,000 firefighters battling the flames using 600 vehicles and aerial support, authorities are struggling to contain what has been described as a disaster of unprecedented scale. The fire has already burned more land than all of France's wildfires in 2024 combined, and more than doubled the area destroyed in 2023.
Climate experts warn that the Mediterranean region of France, already the country's hottest and driest area, faces increasing fire risks due to climate change. As wind direction plays a crucial role in the fire's spread, emergency services are bracing for potentially worsening conditions in the coming days. The scale of destruction highlights growing concerns about the impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable regions.

Al Jazeera's Jonah Hull reports.

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#France #FranceWildfire #SouthernFrance #Heatwave2025 #WildfireEvacuation #ClimateCrisis

Post from Al Jazeera on August 06, 2025

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