Nearly 90 emergency responders injured as France battles wildfires UPDATED

Nearly 90 firefighters have been injured while battling devastating wildfires in south-western France, as authorities evacuated thousands of businesses in what officials describe as the largest wildfires in the country's history.

The blazes have forced the evacuation of at least 13,000 businesses in the Gironde department, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure said employees of evacuated businesses would be eligible for partial unemployment benefits as the government seeks to mitigate the economic impact of the disaster.

He said authorities had launched a large-scale mobilisation of resources to respond to what he described as not only an environmental and social catastrophe, but also an economic one.

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Nearly 90 emergency responders have been injured while battling large-scale wildfires in France, as authorities continue efforts to contain what has become the largest wildfire in the country's history.

Some 84 firefighters and rescue workers were injured in the southwestern department of Gironde, while another five people were injured in the southeastern department of Hautes-Alpes, where firefighting operations have been underway for several days, French media reports.

The most severe situation remains in Gironde, where the blaze has burned approximately 42,000 hectares (104,000 acres), according to the latest figures released by the local prefecture.

French authorities have deployed around 2,500 firefighters to the region, including specialist crews from Switzerland, to combat the fire. They are being supported by 1,500 members of the French military and 1,200 police officers assisting with evacuations and maintaining security in affected areas.

Emergency services continue to work to contain the wildfire as difficult conditions hamper firefighting efforts. Authorities have not yet announced when residents will be able to return to evacuated areas.

By Sabina Mammadli