French authorities said Friday that they were counting on better weather conditions to help put out the country's biggest wildfire in at least half a century, after firefighters finally managed to bring it under control.

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

Experts say European countries are becoming ever more vulnerable to such disasters due to intensifying summer heatwaves linked to global warming.

Firefighters announced that the Aude blaze was brought under control on Thursday, though it would still take several more days before it is completely extinguished.

"The weather is changing in our favour," Remi Recio, a senior regional official who is the su

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