EU offers support as France battles massive wildfire in Aude

The European Union has pledged assistance to France as a devastating wildfire continues to ravage the southern region of Aude. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity with France in a message posted on X, stating that Europe stands by France as the worst wildfires in its recent history rage in Aude, Caliber.Az reports.

L'Europe se tient aux côtés de la France alors que les pires feux de forêt de son histoire récente font rage dans l'Aude.

Mes pensées vont aux courageux pompiers qui luttent contre les flammes.

Nous sommes prêts à mobiliser les ressources de rescEU pour soutenir les efforts…

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) August 6, 2025

She added that her thoughts were with the brave firefighters battling the flames and that the EU was ready to mobilise rescEU resources to support efforts to control the fires.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou has described the blaze as “a disaster of unprecedented scale.”

The wildfire, which broke out on August 5 near the village of La Ribaute, has already scorched more than 16,000 hectares of land — an area larger than the city of Paris. So far, it has left one person dead, 13 injured, and three others reported missing.

More than 2,000 firefighters have been deployed to contain the fire. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said the blaze has destroyed “the most hectares since 1949.”

By Sabina Mammadli