In France and Spain, large wildfires are raging. The A9 highway in southern France, which is located near the fires, was closed for hours as a precaution. Ten people have been slightly injured, including a child.
The wildfire started on Monday afternoon in a wooded area south of Narbonne, which is located in the south of France. The fire spread quickly. Several villages in the area have been evacuated.
It has not yet been possible to get the fire under control. The fire department has deployed more than a thousand firefighters and several fire-fighting aircraft, reports BFMTV.
The fire has damaged at least six houses. In addition, a workshop and a stable went up in flames. Five firefighters and five civilians sustained minor injuries, including a child. Three horses did not survive the fire.
The fire is moving from the wooded area in the hills towards the Mediterranean coast. Roads along the coast have been closed to prevent people from being surprised by the fire.
The A9, which runs along the coast to Spain, was also closed for a long time from Monday evening. The road reopened on Tuesday morning, but traffic should take into account delays of more than an hour. The local road network is also completely congested due to diverting traffic.
Motorists accommodated in sports halls
Many motorists were stranded on the night from Monday to Tuesday because they could not pass through the area. Some had to spend the night in the car. A number were accommodated in sports halls in the area.
The fire was able to spread quickly due to the dry vegetation. There has been a large precipitation deficit in the area since March, which has caused shrubs and trees to dry out. The highest warning for forest fires therefore applied in the area. The police are investigating how the fire could have started.
In Spain, a large forest fire has also been raging since Monday near the Catalan city of Tarragona, south of Barcelona. That fire is not yet under control. The Spanish army has been called in to fight the fire.
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