Rapidly spreading wildfire in southern France leaves one dead

One person has died as a result of a wildfire in the Aude region in southern France, France 24 reported citing local authorities.

The Aude prefecture said in a statement the fire was progressing "very quickly" and that 1,820 firefighters were trying to get it under control, according to France 24. Around 2,500 households in the area were currently without electricity, it said.

President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X late on Tuesday that all of the government's resources were being mobilised to tackle the Aude fire.

The blaze, which started on Tuesday afternoon, is still threatening several villages in the Aude department, where 1,500 firefighters have been battling to extinguish it, according to the report.

"The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress. We are monitoring the edges and the back of the fire to prevent flare-ups," said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture.

One person was seriously burned and another injured, the prefecture said, adding that seven firefighters were also hurt. 

Camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated, and several local roads have been closed.