STORY: French firefighters on Thursday (August 7) morning continued efforts control the country's biggest wildfire in almost 80 years, with the blaze in the southern Aude region having already swept through an area bigger than Paris.

The fire, which started on Tuesday (August 5) afternoon, spread very rapidly through forests and villages and has burnt down at least 25 houses, forcing residents and tourists to flee. Many roads are closed. So far, over 15,000 hectares (37,066 acres) have burned.

One person died in the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, about 30 kilometres from the city of Perpignan, the prefecture said.

The prefecture said the fire was progressing "very quickly" and that nearly 2,000 firefighters were trying to bring it under control. Around 2,500 households in the area were currently without electricity, it said.

Scientists say the Mediterranean region's hotter, drier summers put it at high risk of wildfires. Once fires start, plentiful dry vegetation and strong winds in the region can cause them to spread rapidly and burn out of control.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: WILDFIRE BLAZING / FIRE TRUCKS AND FIREFIGHTERS WORKING ON SITE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: SAINT-LAURENT-DE-LA-CABRERISSE, FRANCE (AUGUST 7, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. SMOKE RISING, FIRE TRUCKS NEAR WILDFIRE BURNING IN FORESTED AREA

2. VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCKS, EMERGENCY VEHICLES, FIREFIGHTERS WALKING TOWARD FIRES BURNING

3. FIRE TRUCKS, FIRES BURNING IN FORESTED AREA

4. FIRE BURNING, FIRE TRUCK

5. FIRE BURNING, FIREFIGHTER, EMERGENCY VEHICLE AND FIRE TRUCK

6. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS HOSING, BATTLING FIRE

7. FIRE TRUCKS, SMOKE RISING OVER FIRES BURNING

8. VARIOUS OF FIRES BURNING, FIREFIGHTERS, FIRE TRUCKS

9. VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCKS, SMOKE RISING OVER FIRES BURNING