Around 2,000 French firefighters are fighting to contain the fast-moving flames that have burned areas larger than Paris, killing older women.

The 16,000 hectares of fire is the largest year so far, local officials said Wednesday.

“We lament the death of an elderly woman of St. Laurent de la Cabreris who doesn’t seem to want to leave her home,” local official Remi Recio told CNN affiliate BFMTV.

The Blaze, which occurred Tuesday afternoon near Ribaute in the Aude division, injured two civilians and seven firefighters, Recio added.

“This is an unprecedented proportion of catastrophe,” said French Prime Minister François Bailloux. Bayrou stressed at a press conference that the event was “related to climate change and drought.”

Approximately 1,250 firefighters are fighting the flames. More resources, including three helicopters and dozens of soldiers, will also be mobilized Thursday, Retero said at the same event.

The Ministry of Ecological Transition said in a press release that the fire “indicates the scale of the outcome of climate change,” saying, “it alone represents the equivalent of all hectares burned in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024, doubled in 2023.”

He added that 25 homes have been affected, dozens of vehicles have been burned, and the drought conditions are accelerating the spread of the fire.

Firefighters briefings on Wednesday Bayrou and Retailleau said within an hour the fire had burned more than 1,500 hectares. The flame then consumed about 1,000 hectares per hour, firefighters added.

Christophe Manny, head of the Ode Regional Fire Force, told BFMTV that extreme weather conditions, combining extreme humidity (25%), winds above 30 km/h and temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius, created the ideal conditions for the fire to spread.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday morning that “the Ode wildfire is ongoing” and that “in this ordeal, everyone must follow the directions of the authorities with the utmost care.”

On Wednesday morning, air operations resumed with heavy helicopters that could carry four tons of water, and four Canadia water bombers that could support ground crews with four dash aircraft.

This is a “disaster of an unprecedented scale,” firefighter spokesman Eric Brocardi told RTL Radio on Wednesday.

“The very tentative material toll shows around 30 vehicles burned out and 25 homes affected by the flames. Currently, 2,500 homes are not powered,” Aude County said in a press release Wednesday. “The fire remains very active and weather conditions will still be at a disadvantage on August 6th.”

According to Reuters, Dutch tourist Renate Koot, who is on vacation in San Laurent de la Cabreris, fled the area with her partner.

“At one moment we were on the phone with the kids… thinking, ‘Look, fire!’ We then jumped into the car and left, praying for protection. “We’re fine. Miraculously.”

“It’s incredible. It’s a catastrophe,” said Issa Medina, a Spanish national who was with the family of San Laurent de la Cabreris.

Officials and experts warn that winds could change, complicating efforts to combat wildfires.

The hot, dry summers in the Mediterranean make the area particularly vulnerable to wildfires, scientists say. When fired, local fires can escalate quickly due to their abundance of dry vegetation and strong winds, making them difficult to contain.

“Climate change is expected to increase the risk of wildfires over the summer, but it will extend into autumn and spring, spreading towards the southwest, the Centre and northern France.”

According to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Services, Europe is the fastest continent in the world, with temperatures rising twice the global average since the 1980s.

Ghana’s defense minister and environment minister are among the eight people killed after a military helicopter crashed in the southern Ashanti region on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Edward Oman Boama and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed were among five passengers and three crew members on the helicopter.

Ghanaian troops said Wednesday they lost contact with the Z9 helicopters heading from the Accra capital to Ooasi, a mining town in southern Ghana.

Chief of Staff Julius Debra said in a video statement that the crash was a “national tragedy” and announced that he would fly half-mast until the flag informs him further.

He said that Ghana’s proxy vice national security coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Munir Limna, Vice-President of the National Democratic Parliament, Samuel Salpon, and three other passengers who fell crashed were the other three who were killed.

The helicopter crew were appointed squadron leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Marine Tohm Appadou and Sergeant. Ernest Ad Mensa.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Fix: This story has been updated to correct the total number of deaths.

The Israeli military chief warned against the full acquisition of Gaza, according to three Israeli sources familiar with the debate, as he believes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ordering “conquest” of the besieged territory.

At a meeting with top officials on Tuesday evening, Israeli Defence Force (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned that a complete conquest of Gaza would lock up troops within the enclave and put the remaining hostages in danger, sources said.

Such a move will increase the burden on Israeli forces when the troops are already struggling with rates of attrition and burnout among the reserve forces, Zamir said.

According to two sources, Zamir’s plan called for the city of Gaza and other areas where hostages could be held while Netanyahu was pushing for a more disturbing operation into the region’s centre.

Netanyahu urged a security cabinet meeting on Thursday to support a full “strip conquest,” CNN previously reported.

The latest differences underscore the growing discrepancy between Israeli military leaders and their political hierarchies. While Israeli forces recommend pursuing diplomacy to end the war, Netanyahu and his government are seeking the biggest war goal.

Israeli forces have already controlled about 75% of Gaza after nearly two years of war, saying that the majority of the territory has left in abolished, causing a humanitarian crisis. Israel withdrew from Gaza 20 years ago, but Zamir warned that a full military occupation could tempt the IDF anew.

Zamir’s warnings opposed the far-right party of Israel’s government and once again the new military chief. They have repeatedly called for Israeli bombings and Gaza attacks to destroy Hamas.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gwil demanded on social media that Zamir has publicly stated “even if decisions are made regarding conquest and decisive actions,” “in his own voice,” and “in his own voice.”

After Tuesday’s meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office issued an official statement saying, “The IDF is ready to implement the decisions made by the Security Cabinet.”

On Wednesday, Netanyahu met with Yair Lapid, the opposing leader of Israel. He later issued a video statement calling the conquest of Gaza “a very bad idea.”

“You won’t be in that kind of move unless most of the country is behind you,” Rapid said. The people of Israel are not interested in this war – we will pay a price for it too. ”

Polls have repeatedly shown that the majority of Israelis support the end of the war in exchange for the release of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry reported the highest death toll in weeks on Wednesday, with 138 people dead in the last 24 hours.

Five people have died of hunger in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said Wednesday that it has brought about the total number of people who have died of hunger and malnutrition to 193 people, including 96 children.

Cogat, an Israeli agency responsible for bringing aid to Gaza, added that nearly 300 trucks entered Gaza and were collected and distributed by the United Nations and international organisations on Tuesday, with 110 aid being administered air in cooperation with the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Germany, Germany, Canada and Canada.

However, Hamas Control’s media office said only 84 trucks entered the enclave on Tuesday, adding that the strip requires at least 600 bailouts and fuel trucks to meet the basic needs of the population.

When he visited Chongkin last November, Joshua Guvi was worried that the cities he saw on social media weren’t that cool in real life.

Located in a mountainous region in southwestern China, this vast metropolitan city is known for its complex, multi-layered layout, and some call it the “8D city” of China. The entire area, including the outer part of the countryside, is the size of Austria. Due to the city’s unique inland geography and rapid growth, Chonging went nowhere, but not even a single building passed through the middle of it.

For tourists, and even some locals, who are lost in serpentine, the eye-opening chords are part of the fun.

“It actually shot a lot in response to my expectations,” says Guvi, a travel content creator in Canada.

These moments were compiled into videos on Guvi’s YouTube channel. He writes: “Chunkin feels like he’s peering into the future. Neon lives in motion. The city has its own pulse.”

The words are clearly mentioned. Guvi began his trip in Shanghai, but he says he wanted to experience a more authentic Chinese city soon.

“I’ve heard some people talk about it in Shanghai… Shanghai is a great city, but I wanted to see more of the real China compared to things like Shanghai that you can still get in English.”

He is not the only city to bypass Beijing, Xi’an and other cities in favor of Chongkin, along established Chinese tourist routes. Chord tourism has skyrocketed since the country reopened after the pandemic.

Social media has become the main way for young travelers to learn about the city. One virus post on Instagram shows the building that says, “I think you’re on the first floor, but in reality it’s 12th.”

According to data released by the government of Chong-Gin, the city welcomed around 1.3 million inbound tourists in 2024, representing an increase of 184% year-on-year.

In the first two months of 2025, the number of foreigners entering the city’s ports increased by 60% year-on-year, according to the Chili Immigration Bureau.

Local travel agency manager Li Tian says the city’s viral popularity has led to a “20-30% increase in foreign visitors.” She added: “We host more than 20,000 tourists each year, with international tourists currently accounting for around 10%. The outlook for inbound tourism is very promising.”

In response to growing international demand, the agency has added tours in English, Spanish, Thai, Japanese and Korean.

Li says that most foreign tourists usually stay in Chongkin for about five days.

Geographical proximity and affordable airfares make the majority of tourists come from Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea, but there is also an increase in visitors from Europe and Australia.

In fact, American tourists have seen the most notable increase. So, it’s particularly impressive considering that the only direct flight from the US to chili peppers is a weekly event on Hainan Airlines.

“At this point, the US is the number one country from a client-based perspective, accounting for around 20%. That’s already hundreds,” said Chen Min, the founder of a private travel agency founded late last year.

Chen launched a boutique travel agency after realising Cheong-Gin’s burgeoning popularity overseas. His company specializes in customized full and half-day experience for small groups of 1-4 people.

“In the first month, we only had a few orders. In the second case, maybe a dozen,” recalls Chen. “Now we receive hundreds of bookings each month,” he explained that the number of tourists fluctuates seasonally. Some of them explained that June tends to be medium, but December and April – Christmas and Spring Break are much more busy.

On Chen’s website, the most popular products include walking tours of the city’s old town and scenic hiking trails, and a themed itinerary that follows the steps of the viral trip of popular American YouTuber Ishowspeed this April.

Other feature destinations include the abolished nuclear military factory, the rock sculptures of Daz and three natural bridges in Oolong.

Defining the architecture of cheonggging is a challenge, a science fiction genre set in the lawless subculture of an oppressive society dominated by computer technology, with many dubbing Cyberpunk.

“Chongu’s architectural style is unique,” says Matthew Blair, 34, an American who moved to the city in 2009.

Wang Linkin, a 27-year-old Chungkin native who had previously studied in the United States, has become a freelance tour guide. He recently led a team of 20 American college students in the city.

“When I found out they were college students, I pulled out Luffy’s straw hat, which had been forgotten for a long time,” Wang says. “It was a big group so I needed something for them to follow. When I put on my hat, they call me ‘Luffy’ and trail behind me. ”

Wang took them on a tour that reflected Ishau Speed’s livestream adventure, including outdoor hillside escalators, towering 20-storey elevated overpasses and internet-famous “Kui Singh Building” that reflects the live stream adventures of Ishau Speed.

“They kept asking me questions,” Wang recalls. “Why is the eighth floor of one building connected to the first floor of another building? Are the monorails passing through the building blocking residents? Why are some windows covered with cages?”

In fact, Chongqing’s unique multidimensional layout is not an aesthetic design, but a need.

Located at the junction of the Jairing and Youngtze rivers in China, Chong is often referred to as “mountain city.” Housed with more than 32 million residents, the city traverses valleys, hillsides, river valleys and layered skylines. The highly challenging geography makes urban planning for traditional flatlands almost impossible with chili peppers.

Instead, the functions of the city are organized and stacked in height. Transportation systems, residential buildings, commercial areas, sky gardens and pedestrian squares are all layered in terrain.

Buildings often have entrances on multiple levels, depending on the surrounding street level based on topography. As a result, a single skyscraper will have entry-level access on the first, 12th or 20th floors, creating what is called an incredible “8D space.”

Wang led a group of 20 American college students to one of the most iconic examples of Chonggin’s unique architectural landscape town, the Riziba Monorail Station, where the monorail passes through residential buildings built on a hillside that stretches along the Yangtze River deep in the town.

“That’s when I realized the most valuable reward of being a guide,” he added. “Through the eyes of travelers, I have started falling in love with my hometown again.”

In addition to his dramatic geography and urban visuals, Blair says he is passionate about all the spicy, but the food says he has kept him in Chongkin for 15 years.

“The tons of street food, late night barbecues and 2am hot pot restaurant also highlight CQ and frankly tasty,” Blair said. “The locals are resilient and as spicy as the food. They are generous, loud and alive. And they want you to be part of the culture.”

Like Beijing and Shanghai, Chonging is one of four state-level municipalities directly controlled by China’s central government.

And this little-known economic hub, located upstream of the Youngtu River, has quietly held its position for the past five years as China’s fifth largest economy. Last year, they surpassed Guangzhou to rank fourth in the nation, behind only Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen.

Due to its unique history and geography, the city has long been seen by the central government as a strategic hub for China’s “West” development campaign. During World War II, Chongking served as a wartime capital thanks to its mountainous regions and natural defenses. Today, the remnants of wartime military sites and foreign embassies coexist with everyday life in the city. Enjoy hot pots at the underground bomb shelter restaurant.

With the centre of gravity going viral online, local governments have invested heavily in both economic growth and cultural promotion.

In June this year, Chongqing announced its latest high-speed train station. Built to accommodate a large number of passengers, this passenger may be the world’s largest high-speed train station ever completed in a single phase.

As for Junggin’s dazzling nightscape, Zhao Wenjing, 41, from Junggin, says it has been decades since.

“It started around 30 years ago that Jeong-gin’s night view began around 30 years ago,” she said.

Last year, a comprehensive lighting plan was implemented for the Central Urban District of Chong. The city continues to develop night view observation points from multiple perspectives, both up and down, adding an outline illuminated by the Skyline’s landmark buildings.

Independent tour guide WAN also noted that the chili government promotes tourism in the city and is very aggressive in organizing regular drone shows, holiday light displays and fireworks shows.

During the peak travel season, local residents receive text messages from the government and kindly ask to stay home to increase the room for tourists to visit.

“I really believe there will be more and more international travelers coming,” says Zhao. “After all, the atmosphere at Chongqing is something that cannot be replaced by any other part of the world.”

Meanwhile, China’s recent wave of visa-free initiatives is part of a wider push to promote inbound travel.

Starting in December 2023, China has granted visa-free access to citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. As of June 2025, China has unilaterally implemented visa-free entry for citizens of 47 countries, offering a simplified entry policy on arrival or simplified entry policies in a total of 54 countries.

Chongking Immigration Bureau data shows that in the first two months of 2025, the number of foreigners entering through visa-free access increased by 245% year-on-year.

Guvi tells CNN he will definitely recommend his friends and followers.

“I want us to stay longer,” he said.