Baghdad: A huge fire devours thousands of hectares in the south of the country French local media reported, citing local administration sources in southern France, that a large fire is raging in one area.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, reports indicated that more than 2,400 hectares of land and crops were burned by the fire that broke out in Ribaut. BFM TV quoted Colonel Alexandre Gossard of the Civil Defense Authority as saying that 4,500 hectares were damaged by the fire in Ribaut.

Gossard noted that the flames spread unusually quickly, and it is unlikely that the fire will be extinguished by the evening. More than 1,000 firefighters battled the blaze, which was fanned by strong winds.