Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Wildfires raged across southern France on Thursday after weeks of dry weather and record temperatures, burning large areas of land and prompting a major emergency response. The biggest blaze spread across the Aude and Herault regions, while other fires also broke out near Marseille and further south.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said nearly 7,000 fires have broken out since the start of the summer season, with around 8,700 hectares already burned. “The situation is fairly tense,” he said, as high temperatures, drought and strong winds continued to raise the risk of more fires.
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In Aude and Herault, up to 800 firefighters and 150 vehicles were deployed to tackle the main fire, which spread over more than 900 hectares, according to local authorities. In Aude, four water-bomber aircraft were also sent to support the firefighting effort. Alain Bucquet, the Aude prefect, told France Info channel, “The idea is to bring the fire under control quickly because temperatures are rising and the wind is growing stronger.”
Further fires broke out in the neighbouring Marseille region, where two blazes were brought under control on Thursday but had not yet been extinguished. The Aude region is regularly hit by wildfires, and last year firefighters there contained France’s biggest wildfire in decades.
Further south, campsites near the seaside resort of Canet-en-Roussillon were evacuated after another fire broke out near the Tet River. Local authorities reported no casualties and asked people not to go swimming after lifeguard stations were temporarily closed so all emergency teams could be deployed to the wildfire. With no rain forecast in the coming days after heatwaves in May and at the end of June, plants and vegetation remain under severe water stress, adding to the danger of more fires.
The fires in southern France have spread across several regions, drawing a large response from firefighters and aircraft, while officials warn that heat, drought and strong winds are likely to keep conditions difficult in the days ahead.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
