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France fights the largest wildfire this year and one person is killed

Local authorities reported that firefighters were fighting in the south of France on Wednesday against the biggest wildfire to have occurred this year.

One person died in the village of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, and one person from the same village was missing, the Aude prefecture said. At least 25 homes have been destroyed by the fire. There are many roads closed in the area.

Prefecture officials said that the fire is spreading "very rapidly" and nearly 2,000 firefighters are trying to control it. It said that around 2,500 households were without power in the area.

Firefighter Eric Brocardi, a spokesman for RTL radio said that the fire spread at 5.5 km/h (3.4 miles per hour).

According to BFM TV's local firefighting chief Christophe Magny, the fire has already burned through 13,000 acres, making it one of the largest wildfires in the country.

The affected area is larger than the size of Paris.

Later in the day, Francois Bayrou, the Prime Minister of France will visit the scene.

Scientists claim that the Mediterranean region is at a high risk for wildfires because of its hotter and drier summers. Fires can spread quickly and out of control in the Mediterranean region due to strong winds and abundant dry vegetation. Reporting by Manon C. Cruz, Charlotte Van Campenhout Michel Rose, and Sudip K. Gupta. Writing by Ingrid Melander. Editing by Tom Hogue, Alison Williams, and Alison Williams.

(source: Reuters)