Rapidly spreading wildfire in southern France leaves one dead

A massive wildfire tore through 11,000 hectares of land in southern France on Tuesday, killing one person, leaving nine people injured and destroying homes, according to local authorities. Officials say the region’s growing vulnerability to wildfires is linked to drought and the loss of firebreaks like vineyards, France24 reported.

One person has died as a result of a wildfire in the Aude region in southern France, the local authority said on Wednesday.

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. Around 2,500 households in the area were currently without electricity, it said.