Over 16,000 hectares burned as wildfire ravages southern France

PARIS - French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Wednesday that the ongoing wildfire in France's southern department of Aude is a "disaster of unprecedented scale" during his visit to the site.

A wildfire broke out shortly after 4 pm local time on Tuesday in Aude, and over 16,000 hectares of vegetation have since been destroyed.

The fire has claimed one life, an elderly woman who perished in her home in Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, Aude.

Asked about the possible cause of the wildfire at a press conference, Bayrou said it was probably caused by roadside activities, without giving further details.

He also pointed out that global warming and drought could have also contributed to the scale of the wildfire.

Local authorities in Aude announced that at least 2,100 firefighters and 500 fire trucks have been deployed to contain the blaze.

According to BFMTV, rescue operation directors said the fire has spread 28 kilometers from its point of origin and is currently moving at a speed of 5 to 6 kilometers per hour.