French firefighters said 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.

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 degrees Celsius would keep the some 1,400 firefighters mobilised on high alert.

“The firefighters will do their utmost before the return of

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