Catastrophic Wildfire Ravages Southern France, Largest Since 1949

As of August 7th, 2025, a devastating wildfire burning in the south of France has grown to become the country's biggest since 1949. The blaze, which began on August 3rd near the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, has already claimed one life and scorched more than 16,000 hectares of land - an area one and a half times the size of Paris.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou has described the situation as a "catastrophe of unprecedented scale". In the first 12 hours, the fire had already spread across 11,000 hectares, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Paris. Within 24 hours, it had destroyed the same amount of land as wildfires usually burn across France in an entire year.

Fueled by strong winds, dry vegetation, and scorching summer weather, the fire has continued to rage despite efforts to bring it under control. Officials say that unfavorable weather conditions, including forecast high temperatures and strong winds, will likely prevent the blaze from being brought under control on August 10th.

The Aude region, where the fire is burning, has been facing a severe drought crisis since August 1st, with a lack of rainfall in recent months playing a major role in the spreading of the fire. Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and droughts, making the region more vulnerable to such catastrophic wildfires.