France battles largest wildfire in decades as residents remain displaced

France battles largest wildfire in decades as residents remain displaced

With the worst of the fires now over, villages in the path of the flames have become accessible again. Some, like Jeanier, reveal grim scenes of destruction. In an idilic countryside setting amid the vines of Corbier wine country, there are signs of a hasty retreat, a bottle of sunscreen, melted lounges, pool time rudely interrupted. The village is mostly deserted, but for fire crews on watch for possible flare-ups and a few residents who’ve returned to assess the damage. It’s under control for now. It shouldn’t start again. But if it does, it won’t be too bad because there’s nothing left to burn. I feel bad for these people who have lost everything, especially since we know some of them who have devoted their lives to these places. It’s horrible. Fate is really against them. It’s a disaster. France’s worst wildfire in 75 years took less than three days to devour an area the size of Paris. This singled incident has equaled the area destroyed by fire in France in all of 2024. And it’s double the toll of the year before that as wildfires become more intense and more frequent. For people who live in or visit villages like this, not just in the south of France, but across southern Europe, the summer has always been a time of sunshine and lazy holidays. But increasingly now a moment of potential peril. And the trends suggest things are getting worse. On a visit to affected areas, the Prime Minister Francois Beeru blamed climate change and drought. Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent and the Mediterranean region its overheating underbelly. So that one more fire in one more place means carefree summer days may be numbered. Jonah Alazer in southwest France. Don’t miss out. Get the full picture. Subscribe to Alazer for reliable news, expert insight. Like, share. Stay ahead.

Thousands of residents remain evacuated in Aude as firefighters combat unpredictable flames intensified by strong winds.
France’s most devastating wildfire in decades remains active despite being brought under control, officials announced, as firefighting efforts continue with hundreds of personnel.
The massive blaze in Aude has scorched more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) – an area larger than Paris – killing one person, injuring another 13 and destroying numerous homes.

Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull reports from southwestern France.

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