Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has declared the intense wildfire near the Spanish border in southwestern France as a ‘catastrophe of unprecedented scale.’ The blaze, which has already scorched an area larger than Paris, continues to pose a severe threat to the region. Emergency services are urgently working to contain the fire, which has led to widespread damage and the displacement of numerous residents.
Residents in the affected areas have been evacuated as the fire spreads rapidly, driven by high temperatures and strong winds. Local authorities have implemented a state of emergency to coordinate rescue operations and provide assistance to those displaced. The scale of the disaster has prompted calls for increased resources and support from both national and international aid organizations.
The Prime Minister has emphasized the need for long-term strategies to combat climate change, which is seen as a contributing factor to the increasing frequency and intensity of such wildfires. Environmental experts have warned that without significant policy changes, similar disasters are likely to become more common in the future.