Huge French wildfire contained but ‘not under control’

French firefighters said on Saturday that the country’s biggest wildfire in at least half a century was contained but would not be brought under control before Sunday evening.

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The fire near the Mediterranean coast has ravaged a vast area of the southern Aude department at the peak of the summer tourist season, killing one person and injuring several others.

"The fire is contained but... until Sunday evening the fire will not be under control," said Christophe Magny, chief of the region's firefighter unit.

Authorities warned that Sunday's forecasted hot, dry winds - similar to those when the fire began - and a heatwave alert with temperatures around 40°C would keep the some 1,400 firefighters mobilised on high alert.