A major wildfire broke out in southern France on Wednesday, forcing dozens of residents to evacuate their homes, emergency authorities said.

Hundreds of firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze in the Hérault and Aude departments, where dry conditions and strong winds fueled its rapid spread.

By late evening, the fire had burned around 800 hectares. Authorities said the blaze had been contained in some areas but was not yet under control.

Officials noted that rugged terrain and limited access routes complicated firefighting efforts, prompting the deployment of firefighting aircraft.

The wildfire comes one year after major fires in the Corbières region and just days after a deadly heatwave swept across much of Europe, with another heatwave forecast.