Large forest fires broke out in the Aude department in southern France on August 5, killing at least one person, injuring nine others, and damaging cars and buildings.

More than 1,800 firefighters and all of the country's firefighting planes are involved in extinguishing the blazes, according to AFP.

In less than a day, strong winds and dry weather caused the fire to spread across the Corbières region on the Mediterranean coast, destroying at least 15,000 hectares of vegetation, DW reports.

The fire destroyed or damaged at least 25 homes.

BFM TV quoted French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau as saying that the fire in Ode was the largest in France since 1949, when about 52,000 hectares were burned.