Fire in southern France burns 4,000 hectares, injures two

An intense fire burned through 8,000 hectares in southern France on Tuesday, closing a major motorway and leaving two people injured one critically. The fire raged in the Corbieres hills in the Aude department, inland from the Mediterranean, causing authorities to shut the A9 motorway linking France to Spain.

Camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated, and several local roads were closed. According to the Secretary General of the Aude prefecture "The fire is spreading very quickly because the weather conditions are unfavorable. It's one of the driest areas in the department and the wind is strong".