France detains over 400 suspected arsonists amid wildfires

French authorities have detained more than 400 individuals suspected of involvement in wildfires that have swept across the country since the start of summer, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.

“To date, security forces have detained 402 people in connection with intentional or unintentional arson,” Nunez said at a press conference, noting that the figure includes 156 minors.

According to the Interior Ministry, around 14,000 fire outbreaks have been recorded nationwide since early summer, burning an estimated 120,000 hectares of land as prolonged heat and dry conditions fuel the spread of flames.

The situation has been exacerbated by high temperatures, with an “orange” heat alert currently in place across 16 departments. Meteorological services have warned that elevated temperatures are expected to persist until Friday, increasing the risk of further fires.

One of the most serious blazes is ongoing in the Var department, where a wildfire has been burning for two weeks. Approximately 1,000 firefighters have been deployed to contain the blaze, highlighting the scale of the emergency response.

By Tamilla Hasanova