Map: See the full extent of France’s massive Aude wildfire

The wildfire currently raging in the Aude department has become the largest in France for more than half a century, with at least 16,000 hectares of land destroyed. 

Equivalent to three times the size of Lyon, the fire has destroyed dozens of buildings across 15 communes in the Corbières forest. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said it is the most devastating wildfire in mainland France since 1949.

At least one person has died, with three others missing, and several roads remain closed since the fire began on Tuesday afternoon (August 5).

More than 2,000 firefighters were deployed in an attempt to control the blaze yesterday (August 6).

The graphic below shows the extent of the damage as of 18:00 yesterday evening August 6), including the areas within the department where the fire has spread.