France Battles Forest Fires: 30 Departments on High Alert

Forest fires continue to rage across various regions of France. Firefighting efforts are ongoing in departments like Hautes-Alpes, Vendee, Haute-Corse, Loire-Atlantique, and Var, with the French government reporting that approximately 40,000 hectares have burned since the start of the year. The French meteorological agency, Meteo-France, has issued 'high' to 'very high' fire risk alerts for 30 departments, with Aude, Gard, Bouches-du-Rhone, Var, and Vaucluse being placed on 'very high' alert. In the Hautes-Alpes department, a fire has burned over 50 hectares. In the Var department, a fire in the town of Taradeau is being battled by over 350 firefighters and numerous vehicles. A fire that burned approximately 200 hectares has been brought under control, but extinguishing efforts continue. In the Haute-Corse department on the island of Corsica, fires have burned a total of 570 hectares.