hundreds of people evacuated, firefighters still at work

In just a few hours, Sunday April 16, the outbreak of fire turned into a huge fire, similar to those observed in the middle of summer. The cloud of smoke continues to grow, in the southern tip of the Pyrénées-Orientales. The flames reached the houses. All the conditions are met for ultra-fast propagation. Dry soils, an area composed of shrubs, scrubland, and gusts of wind. From his balcony, a resident films the arrival of the fire, so fast that he has to take refuge on his roof.

The wind against the Canadairs

The fire broke out around 9 a.m., Sunday morning April 16, in the village of Cerbère. Over the course of the day, 300 people were evacuated or confined. According to the latest assessment, already 750 hectares have been covered by fire, the equivalent of 13% of the city of Montpellier (Hérault). The intervention of firefighters is very difficult. Because of the wind, swirling in these reliefs, the Canadairs could not fly as much as hoped. But the means deployed are beginning to bear fruit. Sunday evening, the fire crossed the border, and is now also on the Spanish side.