Raging wildfires have erupted across parts of France and Spain, killing one person and injuring nine, as authorities race to contain the fast-moving flames. Tourists and local residents have been forced to evacuate holiday villages and camping grounds as thousands of firefighters battle intense conditions in some ofEurope's most popular summer hotspots. An elderly woman died in her home and two people were injured, one of whom is now in critical condition with severe burns, according to authorities in the Aude region, where the inferno broke out on Tuesday afternoon. In Spain, 15mph winds fanned raging flames across the popular Torre de la Peña beach resort in Cadiz. All bars, restaurants and hotels have been evacuated in between La Peña and Casas de Porros, according to local reports. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has mobilised "all the nation's resources" to tackle the biggest blaze in France this year, in a summer which has already seen some 9,000 fires, mainly along its Mediterranean coast, according to the emergency management service. "We support our firefighters and our forces battling the flames. We have confidence in the government and elected officials," Mr Macron wrote on X. "Everyone must exercise the utmost caution and respect the instructions of the authorities." Nearly 2,000 firefighters worked overnight to contain the flames, which have scorched more than 12,000 hectares of land in the Aude region, an area greater than the city of Paris. The blaze remained "very active'' on Wednesday, said local authorities, adding that seven firefighters were injured by smoke inhalation. François Bayrou, the French prime minister, is expected on site on Wednesday afternoon, his office said. Eric Brocardi, a firefighter spokesman, called the fire "a disaster of unprecedented scale". It has destroyed at least 25 houses, forced several major roads to close, and left around 2,500 households without electricity. The Aude department has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the removal of vineyards, which used to help break the progression of fires. Last month,a wildfire that reached the southern city port of Marseille, France's second-largest city, left around 300 injured. Credit: Reuters Southern Europe has alreadybattled multiple large fires this summer, as scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed of the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. It comes amid reports thatBritish tourists are increasingly rethinkingclassic summer destinations, as intense heat waves regularly topping 40 degrees disrupt holiday plans, coinciding with school holidays. About nine per cent of European travellers have changed the months they travel due to the threat of increasing extreme weather events, according to a study conducted in July by the European Travel Commission. Families are increasingly choosing to holiday between September and November, known as "shoulder season", or the off-peak season, according to the industry. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
